Tom Cork has been appointed as the Indirect Sales Manager at Mitsubishi Electric, bringing nearly 20 years of industrial experience, including over a decade at ABB. Cork is tasked with enhancing the division’s channel performance, focusing on distributors and integrator partners. This strategic move is part of a broader transformation led by Divisional Director Mike Cairns, who joined in August 2023 from Ishida Europe.
Cairns emphasises the importance of a robust management team in driving the UK’s transformation. He states, “We have a clear goal to transform the business into a real growth engine by moving away from product towards being a solutions provider. We recognised early that a strong and experienced UK management team was a vital growth enabler and over the last two years we have recruited outstanding people to drive our ambitions.”
Recent strategic appointments include Dan Bull from Rockwell as UK Sales Manager, and Stephen Chilton from Omron as Product and Marketing Manager. Chilton will focus on strategic product management. Additionally, David Bean has been promoted to the UK management team in a newly created role as Business Development Group Manager, focusing on infrastructure and digitalisation. He joins Operations Manager Kerina Spencer and Strategic Development Manager Chris Evans.
Cairns notes that the new leadership structure positions the UK business for future growth. “The Automation Systems business in the UK is undergoing a major transformation that aligns the UK with wider Europe and positions the division for growth. The shift from a product-based to a solution-based business requires a variety of changes — including corporate culture, organisational structure, and a mindset shift. It is the role of our senior leadership team to drive these changes through the business, and we are already receiving a very positive reaction from our customers.”
