When we last profiled Daikin in 2016, the company was making headlines with its bold strategy to revolutionize the HVAC industry. Back then, the focus was mainly on integrating Goodman and launching the *Amana® Brand Toolbox. A lot has changed since then — not only for Daikin, but for the entire HVAC marketplace.
So, nearly 10 years later, who is Daikin today? What does the world’s largest HVAC manufacturer look like after a decade of acquisitions, regulatory upheaval, electrification pressures, refrigerant transitions, and an accelerating shift toward inverter-driven equipment?
To answer that, I sat down with Doug Widenmann, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Inc. Widenmann is a 40-year veteran of the HVAC Industry who joined Daikin in September 2011. Before that, he held various roles at Trane, Rheem, and Johnson Controls. His focus at Daikin today is to develop the company’s brands, lead their product marketing efforts, and drive Daikin’s product business strategy.
What emerged from our conversation is a portrait of a company that has evolved far beyond HVAC equipment manufacturing. Daikin today is a mission-driven, people-centric organization focused on innovation, sustainability, contractor alignment, and a long-term commitment to transforming comfort delivery in North America.
Building a Unified Daikin: A New Identity for a New Era
One of the most significant changes since our last profile is Daikin’s internal transformation. In the previous five years, the company fully unified its Goodman and Daikin business units — something Widenmann views as foundational.
“In 2022, we renamed our business from Goodman Global Group to Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Inc.,” he explained. “That change allows us to take full advantage of our strengths and really symbolizes our transformation. It was time to
operate as one company, one team, and one Daikin.”
The timing was notable: this unification happened just ahead of Daikin’s 100th anniversary in 2024. Widenmann said the company marked this anniversary with something quietly profound: Daikin formally codified its People Centered Management philosophy, the cultural foundation of the company.
“Our 100th anniversary wasn’t just a celebration,” Widenmann said. “It was a moment to recommit to our purpose: adding value to society, being good stewards of the community, and believing in the unlimited potential of our people.”
Driving the Future: “Inverterization” and Electrification
A significant thread throughout our discussion was Daikin’s strategic push to “inverterize” the North American market.
“The industry is changing,” Widenmann told me. “We don’t just sell hardware anymore. We sell hardware and software-based communication systems that optimize inverter technology. High-Performance HVAC™ contractors are vital to telling that value story.”
The Daikin FIT system has been central to this effort, offering contractors a scalable path into inverter-based solutions. And the movement is far from over.
NOTE: *Amana® is a registered trademark of Maytag Corporation or its related companies and is used under license. All rights reserved.
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