A century together and still going strong

But we have Chinese locals who are running most of our businesses in China. We also want to see if we can start exporting that talent and help them become a part of the larger Johnson Controls.

Is there a leadership style that is particularly effective in China?

It's a very relationship-based culture.

I think it requires someone who is able to build relationships and also have the ability to work within the structure of a multi-industrial US company and that takes a special person.

You have to be able to be local and you have to be able to translate that to folks who don't spend all their time in China.

Will the Tyco merger affect Johnson's China operations?

I think it will be mostly helpful for the Tyco operation. Tyco is not as large in their fire and security products in China. Our brand, our management capability and infrastructure are going to help them grow quite a bit with fire and security products. They are smaller than we are today.

During your trips to China, is there a place or area that has particularly impressed you?

I have spent so much time in the major cities, and I think what really hit me was the disparity between the cities. I have also spent time on the road and what is overwhelming is the opportunity.

As people talk about the economy changing and people talk about what the opportunity really is or isn't, and you just see the scale or infrastructure that's there and the infrastructure opportunity and the fact that the opportunities are migrating from east to west and people moving to the cities－I think that is what has been eye-opening for me.

It's always easy to fly into Shanghai and see how much things have changed over three or four month.

But then when you get a chance to travel inside the country, you find out it's not unique to just Shanghai. The scale of opportunity is not going to go away. I am bullish on China.

What hobbies do you have?

My hobbies today beyond work have been put on hold. But the most important thing for me when I think about things outside of work is to live my life through my girls.

I have two daughters, and I want to help them be successful and listen to them when they allow me to spend time with them.

Eventually, when this gig is over I hope to get back to normal hobbies like golf and get back to a place where I can go fishing with my brother.