LG Electronics Australia is grappling with renewed instability inside its air conditioning division, with a senior industry executive revealing he rejected an approach from the company — as insiders warn the strategically critical business unit is “going nowhere.”

Ian Robertson, a former Samsung and Daikin executive who now serves as International Director of International Sales APAC & ANZ at RLS Rapid Locking System, told ChannelNews he was approached by LG Electronics for a senior role late last year — but declined.

“I was approached just before Christmas by international management but turned their offer down,” Robertson said. “I have no interest in working at LG again.”

The rejection comes as LG Electronics Australia scrambles to stabilise its air conditioning business, a division central to the company’s broader strategy of shifting away from lower-margin consumer electronics and toward higher-margin B2B operations.

Yesterday, ChannelNews revealed that LG is actively headhunting for a senior executive to lead the struggling air conditioning unit — a business now front and centre in LG Group’s global push to accelerate B2B growth.

Leadership Vacuum Deepens

The management strain intensified last month when Air Conditioning Product Director Hun Oh was unexpectedly recalled to South Korea, raising further questions about leadership continuity within the Australian operation.

Multiple internal sources have described a business under pressure.

According to one insider, LG’s air conditioning division — much like its TV business — “is going nowhere.”

“The business has struggled to grow from the strong position LG used to have in the Australian market,” the source said. “Up against the likes of Daikin, we are going backwards.”

The situation appears to be deteriorating, with ChannelNews informed that at least three executives within the division are actively seeking new roles.

Strategic Ambitions vs Market Reality

The instability is unfolding at a critical time for LG globally. The company has identified HVAC as a cornerstone of its “2030 Future Vision,” aiming to transform its air conditioning and HVAC operations from a traditional hardware supplier into what it describes as high-tech “Smart Life Solutions.”

Central to that plan is capitalising on the global AI boom — particularly the intensive cooling demands of AI-driven data centres now emerging across Australia.

However, insiders claim the Australian business lacks the leadership depth required to execute the strategy effectively.

Robertson, who previously reported to now-departed Samsung Vice President Jeremy Senior, also challenged assumptions about the structure of the local market, noting that residential systems still account for around 70 per cent of Australia’s air conditioning sector, with the bulk of installations handled by specialist installers.

That dynamic presents a structural challenge for any company seeking to rapidly pivot toward large-scale commercial and B2B dominance.

Mounting Questions

LG Electronics Australia has been asked to comment on the claims.

With senior executives departing, recruitment efforts under way, and global pressure mounting to deliver on ambitious B2B targets, the company’s Australian air conditioning division now finds itself at a crossroads.

Whether LG can stabilise leadership and reverse what insiders describe as a backward slide remains to be seen — but the warning signs are growing harder to ignore.