Strategic Clarity: From Conglomerate to “100-Year-Old Startup” | Carrier CEO, Dave Gitlin

Podcast Spotlights​

 

​What happens when a 100-year-old industrial company suddenly has to operate like a startup?

 

Dave Gitlin explains what it looked like to spin Carrier out of a major conglomerate in April 2020, exactly as COVID was turning into a global crisis.

 

Almost immediately, the company had to navigate survival mode, rethink its operating model, reshape its portfolio, and define what Carrier would become as an independent business.

 

What followed was a broader transformation around strategic focus, capital allocation, connected systems, AI infrastructure, and the future of thermal management.

 

Dave shares how Carrier evolved from a traditional HVAC manufacturer into a thermal solutions company operating at the center of some of the largest infrastructure shifts of the modern era.

 

Dave is the Chairman and CEO of Carrier and also serves on the board of Boeing following decades of leadership experience across Collins Aerospace and the former United Technologies businesses.

 

What You’ll Discover In This Episode

 

- Spinning Carrier out of United Technologies during the start of COVID

- Building a “100-year-old startup” with a new culture, operating system, and leadership rhythm

- Using strategic clarity to reshape the portfolio and capital allocation

- The growth of AI infrastructure and the cooling demands behind data centers

- Moving from HVAC products to intelligent thermal solutions

- Rethinking global manufacturing through lifecycle cost, cash flow, and customer proximity

 

Guest Bio

 

Dave Gitlin is the Chairman and CEO of Carrier. He previously served as President & Chief Operating Officer of Collins Aerospace, and was President of UTC Aerospace Systems after leading the integration of Goodrich Corporation with UTC. In addition to his leadership roles, he has extensive experience in business development, strategy, and mergers and acquisitions. Gitlin holds a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, a Juris Doctorate from the University of Connecticut, and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management.