PEOPLE 10 MINUTES WITH: CATHERINE CONNOLLY Chief Executive Officer, Knightsbridge.
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.
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 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 spanned
Long Rake Spar welcomes new Account Manager, Megan Brooker for the Central England and Wales region in their Natural Selection channel. She has many years’ industry experience,
previously working at IBC Buying Group, Tobermore and Brett Landscaping. Rachel Aiers who previously covered this area, as well as the South West, will now be managing Merchant Accounts in the South West region.
across everything, including product development, engineering and supply chain globally.
What would you like 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 has been the highlight of your career so far (can be more than one!)? 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.
What do you see as the main issues for builders’ merchants and for the construction 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
Marsh Industries, has appointed Professor Tom Stephenson (FREng, CEng, FIChemE, FHEA) of Cranfield University to the Board as a Non-Executive Director. He actively supports innovation in the
water sector and, as a member of Water UK’s Net Zero Expert Panel, is working towards the industry achieving net zero carbon emissions. He brings a wealth of experience that will further develop Marsh Industries’ innovative product range.
Steve Marshall has taken over as Managing Director of Strand Hardware, and also its two sister companies – Strand Technologies and AliMet Fabrications. He joins the group following a 24-year career at GEZE UK where, for the past two years he served as Operations Director, following roles in the service and commercial teams.
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of quotes and makes it’s 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 are skilled in selling and supporting our products?
If you could go back to the start of your career, what piece of advice would you give yourself?
Own your future and ignore the detractors.
What keeps you busy at the weekends? I enjoy running and recently ran the London Marathon raising over £4000 for Shelter. I have been practicing 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.
If you’re at the bar – what are you drinking? Newcastle Brown Ale.
What’s your favourite book? Favourite film? 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!
If you could be a superhero, what super- power would you choose?
Not sure if this is a ‘superpower’, but if I could, I would bring Alan Rickman and David Bowie back to earth for a day as I think the world needs them right now. BMJ
ON THE MOVE
SIG UK is announcing the appointment of Jason Hemingway as Sales Director for National Accounts, whose role will be to focus on enhancing the National Account offer and
leading the dedicated, knowledgeable account team. Through adding to the team’s expertise and understanding, they will be able to offer the full SIG UK product mix resulting in more customer-focused solutions.
Architectural ironmongery supplier Abloy UK has appointed Ian Miller as Manager of its new Digital Access Solutions Academy, a purpose-built facility to showcase, work with, install and test the company’s range of products, with particular focus on new digital solutions and ecosystems.
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net February 2022
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