SPECIAL FOCUS NEWS


People on the move Cross Rental Services appoints new CEO


C


ross Rental Services has confi rmed a planned leadership transition in which


UK Managing Director Matt Parker will step into the role of CEO, alongside the appointment of a new Chief Financial Offi cer, as the Group enters its next phase of growth. The changes took eff ect on 28 August 2026 and support the continued development of the business across the UK and Ireland.


After almost seven years as CEO,


Graeme Nesbitt has moved into the position of Board Director & Strategic Advisor. He will remain closely involved in the Group’s strategic development, key relationships and future growth. The transition forms part of a succession planning process


agreed with the Board and investors, developed since Parker joined the business in 2024.


During his time as UK Managing


Director, Parker has led the expansion of the UK operation, strengthening market position through investment in equipment, people and infrastructure, and broadening capabilities across multiple sectors. The Group has reported double-digit year-on- year revenue growth in 2026 to date, supporting further planned investment in strategic initiatives. Alongside the CEO transition, Russell Harrison has been appointed CFO. A PwC-qualifi ed accountant, Harrison’s career includes senior fi nance roles at New Look, followed by CFO and COO positions at Hobbycraft.


Trane names Wittwer as President, Commercial HVAC Europe


T


rane Technologies has named Adam Wittwer as President, Commercial HVAC Europe,


He joins Cross Rental Services from Churches Fire & Security, bringing extensive experience in scaling multi-site, private-equity-backed organisations across retail, consumer, and service-led markets.


eff ective October 1, 2026. Reporting to Jose La Loggia, Group President for EMEA and Asia Pacifi c, Wittwer will oversee overall business performance, strategic growth, and the expansion of sustainable, energy-effi cient building solutions across the region. Wittwer brings over two decades of leadership experience within Trane Technologies to the role. He most recently led the company’s Thermo King Americas unit and previously served as Vice President of Energy Services for Commercial HVAC Americas and as General Manager for its California and southwestern U.S. region.


Wittwer holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from Indiana University Bloomington.


Williams appointed HPA UK Head of Policy & Comms T


he Heat Pump Association UK (HPA UK) has appointed Mark Williams as its new


Head of Policy and Communications, strengthening the organisation’s leadership at a critical point for the UK’s clean heating transition. Williams joins HPA UK from EDF


Energy, where he served as Senior Net Zero Strategy and Policy Adviser, leading work on electricity market reform. He previously established the policy analysis team at Energy UK, using insight-led advocacy to shape energy policy, including reforms to


electricity policy costs to support heat electrifi cation. Before specialising in decarbonisation, Williams worked across industry, consultancy and the third sector in areas including poverty, housing and criminal justice. He holds


a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Oxford and is committed to developing evidence-led, politically salient policy to accelerate the adoption of clean heating and support the wider energy transition. In his new role, Williams will lead


HPA UK’s policy and communications strategy, working with members, policymakers, and stakeholders to support the growth of the heat pump sector and advance the UK’s net-zero ambitions.


Williams said: “We are at a


crossroads in the transition to clean heating. The role of heat pumps in providing clean, aff ordable warmth to homes and businesses while delivering a more secure energy system has never been more vital. This is an exciting time for HPA UK as it builds on the creation of a unifi ed trade body to strengthen the industry’s voice. I am eager to work closely with our members who are investing and creating jobs across the UK. I look forward to collaborating with everyone working to accelerate the adoption of clean heating in the months and years ahead.”


34 October 2026 • www.acr-news.com


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