Interview


10 minutes with... Catherine Connolly, Knightsbridge


This month’s quick-fire interview is with Catherine Connolly, chief executive officer at Knightsbridge.


Tea or coffee? Red bush tea.


What is your current role and how long have you been doing it?


I’m the CEO of Knightsbridge and SLV Lighting UK, a role I started in May 2018.


What does your role entail? I manage both the Knightsbridge and SLV Lighting UK businesses, with an objective to deliver responsible growth, develop and build both brands and engage and support our customers and our local community.


How did you get started in this industry?


After I graduated from University I worked for a couple of organisations – starting in adhesives with 3M and a mechanical fasteners organisation called Textron. I took a round the world trip starting in India and working my way across Asia to Australia where I worked for a while. I finished my trip via New Zealand to the USA. On my return I joined MK Electric (part of Honeywell) and from there to Schneider Electric and (now) the SLV Lighting Group.


spanned across everything, including product development, engineering and supply chain globally.


What do you hope to achieve in your role?


Responsible growth, and to establish Knightsbridge and SLV Lighting UK as responsible suppliers that care about both their customer and wider communities. We work closely with homeless charities, this year we have chosen to support DOTS London with their vitally important work helping the homeless and their dogs.


What do you see as the main issues for the industry at the moment? Right now: supply chain issues; pent-up demand for materials outweighing the ability of suppliers to supply, making it difficult for anyone to physically get product to complete projects. Another issue is the fluctuations in material costs. This has a negative impact on the accuracy of quotes and makes it difficult to commit to costs and lead times.


Digitisation is also an issue, moving online essentially means that anyone can sell to everyone, so how do we protect the outlets that


“Digitisation is an issue. Moving online essentially means that anyone can sell to everyone, so how do we protect the outlets that are skilled in selling and supporting our products?”


What roles were you doing before and how did they prepare you for this one? My degree is in marketing and business. After graduation I went straight into B2B marketing. MK gave me the opportunity to move into sales, which exposed me to the electrical wholesale and contractor market. My sales and marketing background enabled me to move into general management at MK, managing the UK and Ireland business. I then worked for Schneider, where my management responsibilities


ewnews.co.uk are skilled in selling and supporting our products?


Who has influenced you the most professionally?


Dolly Parton, who famously said, “I’m not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know that I’m not dumb and I also know I’m not blonde”.


What do you consider your greatest achievement?


April 2022 electrical wholesaler | 33


At Knightsbridge: the sustainability and reduction in single use plastics – we were the first company in this space to introduce a suite of sustainably sourced packaging products.


Whole career so far: developing a multi zone Wi-Fi controlled heating system via Wiser (at Drayton – Schneider), delivering cost and energy savings to all customers and installation benefits to the installer.


If you’re at the bar – what are you drinking?


Newcastle Brown Ale.


Football, cycling, rugby, golf, gardening… what keeps you busy at the weekend?


I enjoy running and recently ran the London Marathon raising over £4000 for Shelter. I have been practising yoga for 20 years and love the theatre, and live music (esp. Dolly Parton). I ride the wave of elation and disappointment most weekends following Middlesbrough F.C.


What’s your favourite film and/or favourite book?


Book: White Tiger by Aravind Adiga. Film: Paddington 2. It’s an emotional roller coaster from start to finish! And an Oscar winning performance by Hugh Grant!


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