A lbert Nahmad is an American businessman who is the founder and Chairman of Watsco, Inc., the largest distributor of air conditioning, heating, and refrigeration equipment and related parts in the United States. Born in Egypt, Nahmad moved to the U.S. and earned a degree in mechanical engineering. His entrepreneurial journey began when he took control of a small, struggling manufacturing company, Watsco, in 1972.

Under Nahmad's leadership, the company underwent a dramatic transformation. He shifted its focus from manufacturing to distribution, recognizing a greater opportunity in consolidating the highly fragmented HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) distribution market. Through a highly successful and disciplined strategy of acquiring smaller, family-owned distributors, Nahmad built Watsco into an industry behemoth. He is known for his unique corporate culture, which emphasizes a decentralized, entrepreneurial spirit in the businesses Watsco acquires, allowing them to retain their local identity while benefiting from the parent company's scale and technology. His sons have also taken on leadership roles within the company.