After seven years as managing director EMEA, Keith is swapping the role for a new position as Director of global business development. And he will now be using his considerable industry experience to support the company in its next phase of global expansion.
In recent years Siemon have made significant international investment, and now have a sales and marketing presence in all the major developed markets worldwide, in addition to manufacturing and logistics capability in Mexico, China and the Czech Republic, each established to support the local market needs.
Astin explains: “I will be supporting our business units around the world, helping them coordinate their strategies and activities to ensure we consistently meet the needs of our global customers. I will also be working closely with our channel partners to help bring a global dimension to their business.
“While we will continue to selectively expand into several new countries, we remain a key supplier to a large number of major corporate clients and meeting their needs around the world remains our number one priority.”
Astin has over 30 years marketing, sales and general management experience in the electrical, electronics and communications industries. He has been elected a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing as well as holding current memberships to the Institute of Directors and the Institute of Management.
He has a significant experience of the global market, having lived and worked in both Germany and Australia and has spent much of his working life travelling extensively in the USA.
Many of Siemon’s major clients now specify their IT systems on a global level, and Keith will be working closely with Carrie Higbie, Siemon’s global director of data centre solutions and services.
Replacing Astin as MD is Steven Foster, who has been promoted from marketing manager. “I have worked with Steve for over three years and have a huge respect for both his commitment and his capability. I’m very confident that he will manage our business in EMEA enabling us to sustain our current high growth rates,” says Keith.
“For my part, I am very excited about my new position and the prospect of helping our businesses around the world achieve even greater success.”