A dyed-in-the-wool distribution veteran has crossed the Rubicon and has been named as the UK managing director of a fan and blower supplier.
His name is John Roe and he willhead up the newly-formed UK operation of the Swiss-based Micronel company. Until recently many will have known him as the manager of the electromechanical and connector central product management team. Before that he was sales and marketing director at Acal Radiatron.
It's heartening to see a start-up in the UK. Roe acknowledged it is bucking the trend and commented, "This is a different approach for the UK electronic component supply industry when many distributors and suppliers are cutting back."
Micronel, which is headquartered in Zurich specialises in high performance blowers and fans aimed at myriad applications including medical, military/aerospace, personal protection and specialised industrial applications.
It has direct operations in Switzerland, north America and now the UK. It also has a network of distributors across Europe and worldwide. It has a range of standard products supported by catalogue distributors Farnell, RS Components and Distrelec. In the UK Micronel has Acal Radiatron as a distributor
Roe will also be undertaking a review of the UK market including distribution and how the company meets the demands of its customer base in the UK and Ireland. This will include taking into account how the manufacturing landscape has changed and the dynamics of the electronic component supply industry.
"We will be looking at the contribution of general/specialist distribution and catalogue distribution and how best they can supportour customers alongside the Micronel Direct operation."
Peter Meier junior, the chief executive officer of Micronel said: "Micronel are not a multinational group, nor do we want to be. As Micronel has grown steadily over the past decade we have been careful to use the return from that growth to invest both in new product innovations and new ways of being closer to our customers and key markets. To deliver real value and services in fans and blowers our local operations have to have wide-ranging know-how and experience. That's what Micronel UK will bring to customers and we are confident that this is the start of a long and successful engagement in the UK market."
Shaking hands on the deal are John Roe (left) with Peter Meier
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