Digital transformation and automation specialist Schneider Electric has announced the appointment of Karlton Gray as its new IT channel director for the UK and Ireland.
As a seven-year veteran of Schneider Electric’s Secure Power Division, Gray has already held numerous roles within the business, managing large-scale enterprise, corporate and e-commerce channel partners – including CDW, Softcat, Comms Express, Ebuyer, CCS Media, Misco, Amazon, and Bechtle.
He now steps up to lead IT channel sales across the region, with a focus on driving the continued success of the Secure Power Division, the company said.
“As we return to a more digital, electric world, it’s clear that partner relationships have never been more important,” Gray commented. “Throughout the pandemic, the IT, data centre and communications industries have been pivotal in helping businesses adapt to remote working, and I believe many organisations will look to retain some level of hybrid operations going forward.
“What’s crucial now is that we help our partners meet growing end-user demands, safely return to personal engagements and plan for the future.”
Gray first joined Schneider Electric as channel account manager back in 2015, before being promoted to senior channel account manager two years later. Named APC UK Channel Account Manager of the year in 2019, he then stepped up to the role of Senior Enterprise Account Manager in early 2020.
Gray’s appointment as channel director comes just six months after Schneider Electric launched its Edge Software & Digital Services Programme, designed to provide the tools and certifications to help solution providers create a dedicated Managed Power Services practice.
The firm says the initiative enables partners to establish recurring revenue streams by offering remote monitoring and management of the physical infrastructure across their customers’ networks, utilising Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure IT Software & Digital Services.
“Whether through IT modernisation programmes, the deployment of edge computing solutions or creating new digital service propositions that address end-user skills shortages, technology has provided us with a vehicle to address key business challenges in a sustainable, energy-efficient and environmentally beneficial way,” Gray continued.
“As the world’s most sustainable organisation, I’m excited to be part of a company that’s driving transformative change through our partners.”
