RS appoints Raj Patel as new Managing Director for its UK & Ireland market

Patel offers exceptional leadership skills and strategic insights

RS, a global digitally enabled provider of product and service solutions for industrial customers, has appointed Raj Patel as its new managing director (MD) of the RS UK & Ireland market.

Since 2020, Patel has been the MD of Manchester-based, Distrelec, a high-service, digital-led distributor of industrial maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) products. RS Group acquired Distrelec in June 2023 and Patel has been leading the rapid integration of the latter since then.

Previously, Patel was CEO of a large online book distributor and prior to that role he spent seven years developing inorganic growth plans, business turnaround and transformation strategies for private equity firms.

Peter Malpas, EMEA president of RS, said: “We are delighted to welcome Raj as our new MD for the UK & Ireland market. His exceptional leadership skills, strategic insights and industry knowledge make him the ideal choice to lead this market.

“I am excited to see the continued journey for RS UK & Ireland as we go from strength to strength under a different leader and achieve the ambitions we have set out.”

Patel succeeds Emma Botfield who has been with RS for almost 10 years and MD of RS UK & Ireland since 2020. Botfield has taken on a new challenge leading process harmonisation, delivery & execution across RS Group.

Patel said: “I am very excited at the prospect of leading the largest market of the RS EMEA region and I am very passionate about making a difference to our people, customers, suppliers, and our wider external stakeholders.

“We have a fantastic range of talent, a strong culture and a clear plan. Our key to success will be ensuring we stay focussed and execute our strategy.”