As the leader of LIXIL Water Technology Asia Pacific, Audrey Yeo now has three power brands, American Standard, GROHE, and INAX, under her portfolio, responsible for the strategic, commercial, and operational performance of these brands within the region. It’s a step-up from when she led LIXIL Thailand in 2019, elevating American Standard as Thailand’s Most Admired Brand for Sanitary Ware at Brand Age, for several consecutive years.

During her recent visit to Manila, Audrey joined LIXIL Philippines in commemorating 150 years of American Standard. Guided by the brand’s people-centric theme Life. Love. Home., her focus was on celebrating the momentous milestone and reinforcing the brand’s purpose of improving everyday living through thoughtful design and innovation.

“The milestone for the American Standard brand is really about transforming daily rituals into moments of care, joy, and fun for the family. And personally, for me, it is an honor to celebrate a hundred and fifty years of the brand and to continue to look at how we will drive innovation and purpose-driven solutions to the consumers and customers around the region.” In the Philippines, American Standard has been an omnipresent and trusted brand for over 6 decades, having first established the brand here in 1961.

Addressing the three global trends of health and well-being, sustainability, and urbanization, American Standard has forged a much-envied reputation and equity here in the Philippines. I, for one, vividly recall how my late mother placed her supreme trust in the American Standard brand, and how it would feature in the bathrooms at home when I was growing up. She would often remark that there were only three brands for her when it came to bathroom fixtures and solutions, and I am happy to reveal that two of the brands are now part of the LIXIL family.

Given the privilege of having a one-on-one interview with Audrey, there was much to glean about where the brand is heading, and how it’s not resting on its 150-year ‘young’ laurels. There’s freshness, innovation, and improving technology on the horizon, and it was a glimpse of this that Audrey and I got to discuss.

As Audrey emphasized, the game is about staying relevant and understanding that in the context of sixty or even one hundred fifty years, what matters is what you’ll be doing and offering your customer tomorrow.

“The research shows how, ever since the Covid health crisis, the bathroom has increased in importance within the home. There’s more time spent in bathrooms, which is considered a sanctuary; hygiene is very important, and it’s essential that we understand this and create products that respond to this trend. Health and well-being are values of extreme importance, and we can play a vital role in this.”

By engaging the community of real estate developers, architects, and interior designers in any country where they’re in operation, American Standard ensures that they have their ear and feet to the ground, appreciating the nuances and variances of each country when it comes to high-quality sanitary ware and fixtures. It’s a two-way communication channel, letting the community stay abreast of their collections and product innovations, while hearing from the community to understand what the customer of today is looking for, and being able to anticipate and stay ahead of the curve.

The Acacia Supasleek water closets, the Loven Collection toilets, the DuoSTiX Hygiene Spray and Hand Shower, and the Smart Washer M-Bidet - these are just some of the innovative products and collections that American Standard has introduced to the market over the last few years. As Audrey was happy to reveal, some of these products (the all-new WizFlo Hand Shower with PressurePlus technology), in terms of design and execution, even had markets such as the Philippines, specifically in mind. Fluctuating or low water pressure would compromise the quality of the shower one could enjoy, and it was given to the designers at LIXIL and American Standard to come up with a ‘happy solution’.

Sustainability is a very important cornerstone of LIXIL and all its brands. At American Standard, the idea is always to fully understand the products that are rolled out, increase its efficiency and reliability, and ensure that it maximizes what water resources are available, and enhances how it plays its role in ‘saving the planet’.

From the design and innovative attributes, to the manufacture of, and even the packaging, there is sustainability. Not as some afterthought, but embedded in the operations of the brand, in its DNA, and reason for being.

This commitment was further reinforced during the LIXIL Connect session in Manila, where Antoine Besseyre des Horts, leader of LIXIL Global Design, Asia, spoke about how sustainability unites all LIXIL brands. It’s one of those instances when being part of a big company helps ensure that what’s good for one brand applies to the others. Aligned with LIXIL, and as Audrey has concurred, American Standard continues to find ways on how their innovations will promise so much more in terms of comfort, innovation, technology, and sustainability.

Looking ahead, Audrey sees the next 150 years of the brand deepening its connection with its consumers. As the tagline of "Life. Love. Home" emphasizes, it’s not just about sanitary or bathroom and kitchen products, but also about making smart choices about living, loving those around you, and creating that home you’ve dreamed about.