It’s been a busy few months in the electrical industry, with new appointments and shake-ups across different sectors. Keep up to date with the latest movements here, as we details who has gone where…

Robin Grosse

SIEMENS ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS AND ELECTRIUM

Robin Grosse has been appointed Managing Director of Electrium and Siemens Electrical Products (EP). Robin brings over a decade of deep expertise in product management and sales across hardware and software within the Electrical Products business. Robin’s leadership will strengthen Electrium and Siemens’ commitment to excellence, drive continued growth and innovation, and foster even closer partnerships with valued customers.

Jordan Charran & Barnaby Chapman

OVIA

Ovia has appointed two new Area Sales Managers, with Jordan Charran appointed in the Southwest region, and Barnaby Chapman covering South Wales, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire. Jordan brings a wealth of industry experience to the role, with over a decade in the electrical sector, while Barnaby brings with him four years of experience in the electrical wholesale sector, having held both internal and external sales positions. These appointments form part of Ovia’s ongoing commitment to invest in regional support and deliver outstanding service and solutions to its customer base.

Paul Sawyer, Alistair Lishman & James Louriero

CLICK SCOLMORE

Scolmore Group has announced the expansion of its Click sales team with the appointment of three new Area Sales Managers. Paul Sawyer has been appointed as Area Sales Manager for the East of England, covering Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, and Essex. Alistair Lishman will cover the Lancashire and Merseyside regions, while James Loureiro will cover West Yorkshire. The appointment of Alistair, James and Paul marks a significant step in the ongoing development of the Click Scolmore brand. Their combined experience and regional expertise will ensure that customers across these key areas continue to receive the highest level of service, support, and access to innovative wiring accessories and circuit protection products.

Alice Williams

SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC

Schneider Electric has appointed Alice Williams as VP Digital Energy UK&I. Alice’s role will be to drive growth and impact across the UK and Ireland Digital Energy business. She will focus on delivering end-user energy savings and more resilient, efficient operations for customers through Schneider’s innovative energy management and automation solutions. Alice succeeds Kasim Mohammed who took on the role of VP for Services UK&I earlier this year.

Catch up on previous months ‘Movers and shakers’ articles here

The post Movers & Shakers | December 2025 appeared first on Professional Electricians Wholesaler.

In this month’s Face to Face we speak with Alistair Eaton, Commercial Manager at Electrium, to hear about the evolution of the Crabtree brand.

• When was Crabtree founded and how has its product offering evolved over the years?

Crabtree was founded in 1919 by John Ashworth Crabtree in Walsall, UK, originally as J.A. Crabtree & Co. Ltd. Starting with light switches, the company quickly expanded into sockets, plugs, and power accessories, becoming a pioneer in electrical engineering. It introduced several industry firsts, including the “Quick Make & Break” switch and the UK’s first earth leakage circuit breaker. Over time, Crabtree diversified into switchgear, fusegear, motor control gear, and panelboards. The launch of Starbreaker in 1979 marked a major advancement in domestic circuit protection, followed by Polestar and Loadstar for commercial use. Since joining the Siemens-owned Electrium Group in 2006, Crabtree has continued to evolve, offering solutions across the residential and commercial sector, while maintaining its legacy of innovation, quality, and trusted performance.

• What are Crabtree’s core product ranges?

Crabtree offers a comprehensive range of circuit protection and power distribution products, spanning from 100A single-phase consumer units to 630A panelboards. At the heart of its domestic offering is the innovative Starbreaker range, known for its safety, compliance, and ease of installation. For commercial and light industrial applications, Loadstar and Polestar provide versatile three-phase distribution board solutions tailored to different installation needs. Fusestar delivers reliable fuse switch disconnection, while Powerstar completes the portfolio with robust panelboards designed for high-capacity installations up to 630A. Together, these ranges reflect Crabtree’s commitment to quality, innovation, and trusted performance across all sectors of the electrical industry.

• Does Crabtree still manufacture in the UK?

Crabtree is proud to still maintain a significant manufacturing footprint in the UK at our site at Hindley Green. We manufacture all our three phase distribution boards at the site alongside our Wylex and Siemens offering. We see manufacturing in the UK as hugely important to not only us but also to all our stakeholders, whether they be suppliers, distributors, specifiers or contractors. Our UK manufacturing facility empowers us to deliver exceptional quality, faster lead times, and a more resilient supply chain as well as supporting local employment, driving innovation, and supporting our sustainability goals.

• Since its launch in 1979 the Starbreaker brand has remained popular with installers and wholesalers – what makes it stand out in a crowded marketplace?

Starbreaker is Crabtree’s innovative circuit protection range, offering unmatched safety, reliability, and installation efficiency. Its unique plug-in busbar design reduces connections by 25%, lowering the risk of loose terminals and ensuring secure, consistent device fitting. The fully shrouded busbar provides insulation, preventing accidental contact, arcing, and incorrect device installation—key benefits for social housing and safety-focused projects. Designed for flexibility, Starbreaker supports both bespoke configurations and pre-assembled units, streamlining installation and saving time on site. It’s ideal for new builds and retrofits, with support for easy upgrades using the latest safety technologies such as surge protection, bidirectional AFDDs, and RCBOs. Built for longevity and compliance, Starbreaker continues to meet the evolving demands of modern electrical installations without compromising on performance.

• What does the future hold for the Crabtree brand?

Crabtree is synonymous with quality, innovation, and trusted performance and will continue to enhance its circuit protection portfolio with exciting new products, ensuring it remains the preferred choice for professionals seeking reliability, safety, and forward-thinking design.

Find out more about Crabtree UK here

Catch up on previous ‘Face to Face’ articles here

The post Face to Face: PEW hears from Electrium about the evolution of the Crabtree brand appeared first on Professional Electricians Wholesaler.