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Leadership Team

Routeco is led by a group of passionate and talented individuals, who collectively have many years of experience and knowledge within the industrial sector. The short biographies below give you a brief insight into Routeco's Leadership Team.

Dave Amps - Managing Director

Dave joined Routeco in 1998 with an HND in Electrical Engineering. Having previously completed an Advanced Technical Apprenticeship at Perkins Engines, Dave then went on to become Control Systems Engineer. He joined Routeco as a Technical Support Engineer, before moving on to various management roles within Product Support & Technical Sales. Dave then took over the leadership of Routeco's sales team as National Sales Manager and was appointed as UK Sales Director in 2015 then UK Sales Marketing Director in 2017. In 2018 he was appointed Chief Operating Officer and is responsible for leading Routeco’s Sales, Marketing and IT activities. In 2020 he was appointed Managing Director of Routeco.

Keith Harrison - M&A Projects and Commercial Director

Keith joined Routeco in 1997 with an HNC in Electrical Engineering. Keith initially worked in the System Integrator community before moving into Technical Sales for a national distributor. He joined Routeco as Area Sales Manager, covering a number of regional locations in the North West of England and later became Rockwell Business Manager. Appointed as Rockwell Business Director in 2015, Keith is responsible for Rockwell Automation business via Routeco and other strategic alliance partnerships.

Darren Lack - Group Supply Chain Director

Darren joined Routeco in 1993, with an HND in Mechanical & Electrical Engineering. His early career was at British Timken before moving into sales with Harland Simon Control Systems. He joined Routeco as a Sales Engineer for Milton Keynes branch before moving into Branch Management, Regional Sales Management and then onto managing Routeco's Corporate Accounts business. He moved into Operations in 2013 and was appointed Operations Director in 2015 and has since then assumed the role of Group Supply Chain Director for the Routeco group.

Clare Lundberg - HR Director Sonepar UK

Clare has a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and Sociology and is a Fellow of the CIPD. Clare has over 15 years' experience within Human Resources having worked for a large blue chip distribution company (Hays) and an IT outsourcing company (Getronics). Clare joined Routeco in 2006, was appointed as HR Director in 2015. Routeco was acquired by the Sonepar group in 2014 and Mayflex acquired in 2015, Clare has now taken the role of HR Director for both Routeco and Mayflex

Michael McGuinness - IT Director Sonepar UK

Michael started his career in Software development in London in the early 90s. He moved into IT Management with spells at Nurdin & Peacock, Nutmeg UK Ltd and the Vf Corporation. He joined Routeco as MIS Manager in 1997 and after many successful years was appointed as IT Director in 2015. He is now IT Director for Sonepar UK and has responsibilty for the IT and Digital Transformation strategy for Routeco and Mayflex.

Kevin Payne – Group Sales Director

Kevin joined Routeco in 2002 as an External Sales Engineer, following similar roles in the Control & Automation industry. He has since held a number of sales leadership roles, and was Regional Sales Manager for the South for nearly seven years, before being appointed as National Sales and Marketing Manager in 2018. He was appointed UK Sales Director in January 2020 and is responsible for the leadership of our sales, product specialist and marketing teams, ensuring we add value for both our customers and suppliers. In December 2022, his role was expanded to include our European teams.

Mark Crawford – Group Operations Director

Mark joined Routeco in 2018 with an HNC in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. His initial role was Group Manufacturing and Services Manager, then became Group Operations Director in January 2020. He is responsible for improving our operational systems, processes and policies to optimise customer service and increase efficiency across the Routeco Group. Prior to joining Routeco, Mark was at Rockwell Automation for nearly 20 years where he held a number of different sales management roles.

Damian Spall - Group Technical Sales Manager

Damian joined Routeco in 2007, and holds qualifications in Electronic Engineering and Communications and Information Technology from Suffolk College. He completed his technical apprenticeship in the 90s while employed at Schlumberger Industries, a leading global manufacturer of smart metering products. Following a brief spell overseas and then working for a television ratings media company in central London, he joined Routeco and has held a number of different sales, marketing and product related management positions. Damian’s role now includes leadership of the UK product specialist teams and portfolio and supplier management across the Routeco Group.

Phil Huntley - Group Sales Operations Manager

Phil Joined Routeco in 2007 and has a National Diploma in Business studies. Phil has over 30 years’ experience in industrial automation and control and electrical markets. In the 90s Phil lived and worked in Australia in the electrical OEM market. On returning to the UK in 2000 Phil joined Avnet Abacus, then joined Rockwell Automation for six years. Phil joined Routeco in 2007 and has held several leadership roles in sales across the business at UK level. Phil’s role now includes leadership of the UK Sales operations teams and operations across the Routeco group, including our European offices.

Stefan Gottwald - Regional Director DACH

Stefan went to the Technical College for Telecommunications before graduating from Vienna University of Economics and Business. He started his career at a global software and high-tech company as a Project Manager before developing a global division which he headed up as Division Manager. Stefan then joined a MES software manufacturer, which served the industrial manufacturers’ market, where he headed the sales, strategic management and marketing department. He was Routeco’s Austria Sales Director until December 2022 before assuming his current role.

James Jonckers - Country Director (Belgium)

James Jonckers has started his career in December 2019 at Routeco BV. He was the first Routeco employee in Belgium and is now running the Belgian business with a strong growing team. After a degree in Industrial Automation, James started his career as engineering manager at a specialised machinebuilder. Later he was active in different sales management roles within the industry. He is now responsible as Country Director for Routeco Belux.