Sun Hydraulics ships exec to China

SARASOTA — Tim Twitty, a 20-year executive with screw-in cartridges and hydraulic valve manufacturer Sun Hydraulics, was named the firm's top executive in Asia.

Twitty, a corporate and operations leader at Sarasota-based Sun, will relocate to China, according to a public filing. The company has done business in Asia for several years, and executives consider the region a prime growth opportunity.

Twitty, who has served on the board of the Sarasota Manatee Area Manufacturers Association, most recently oversaw a $19 million expansion at Sun's local facility. He recently spoke with the Business Observer about Sun's corporate culture, which emphasizes a flat structure over titles and hierarchy. “It was definitely unique to me when I came here,” says Twitty. “Being flat and horizontal allows you to do a lot of things in the company. People don't wait around for someone to tell them what to do, and that's a pretty unique thing I haven't seen anywhere else outside of Sun.”