03/20/2025
Danfoss Climate Solutions named Dennis Appel as Divisional President of its newly established Controls and Thermal Management division. This division unites the expertise of heat exchangers with refrigeration, cooling and air conditioning technologies to accelerate innovation and enhance efficiency.
Since 2020, Dennis Appel has played a key role in expanding Danfoss’s heat exchangers business.
“Dennis has successfully led our heat exchangers business, and his leadership will be a tremendous asset to our refrigeration and components business. With 20 years of leadership experience in international heat transfer and thermal management companies, he brings deep industry expertise to this role,” said Kristian Strand, President, Danfoss Climate Solutions.
Appel said, "I am excited to build upon our strong foundation and history of exceptional products, solutions and customer relationships, while bringing together two talented teams with a proven track record of success. Most importantly, I look forward to driving impactful results for our customers."
By combining heat exchangers and refrigeration technologies, Danfoss Climate Solutions is strengthening its ability to respond swiftly to evolving customer needs, technological advancements and regulatory requirements.
“The HVACR industry is advancing rapidly, with an increasing focus on sustainability, energy efficiency and compliance. Our new setup will allow us to align more effectively with these trends and seamlessly adapt to market changes,” said Strand.
Dennis holds an MBA from Purdue University and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Vanderbilt University. Before joining Danfoss, Dennis held key executive positions in leading companies. From 2016 to 2019, he served as Vice President of Commercial and Industrial Solutions at Modine Manufacturing, overseeing thermal management operations across North America, Europe and China. Prior to that, he spent a decade at Luvata (later acquired by Modine) in senior leadership roles, most recently as President of the Heat Transfer Solutions Division, a global provider with 18 manufacturing sites worldwide. His extensive international background reflects his expertise in global operations and market strategy. As of 2025, he serves as a Board Member of the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI).
About Danfoss
Danfoss engineers solutions that increase machine productivity, reduce emissions, lower energy consumption and enable electrification. Its solutions are used in such areas as refrigeration, air conditioning, heating, power conversion, motor control, industrial machinery, automotive, marine and off- and on-highway equipment. Danfoss is family-owned, employing more than 40,000 people, serving customers in more than 100 countries through a global footprint of 95 factories. For more information, visit https://www.danfoss.com.
