Industrial automation specialist Rockwell Automation has announced the appointment of David Hegarty as managing director Australia and New Zealand, a role he will take on while concurrently continuing to serve as the company's regional sales director.
Hegarty said his dual role was designed to demonstrate the customer-centric approach of Rockwell.
“I’d like to make sure that everyone in Rockwell Automation feels that they play a part in serving customers and keep customer service central to what we do,” Hegarty said.
He said his vision for Rockwell was to be the most valued supplier of industrial automation products and solutions in the region.
“I see my role asmanaging director Australia and New Zealand as one of translating what being ‘most valued’ means to customers and industry in our region, and leading our team to meet and exceed customer expectations,” he said.
Hegarty has been with Rockwell Automation since 1999, and he has managed branches in Sydney and Brisbane, and spent several years based in Singapore.
He said this had given him a broad understanding of the capabilities of the company and strong links to leadership in Australia, New Zealand and Asia. He said this would help the company during the current time of economic uncertainty in Europe and China, as well as assist him to manage the flow-on effects of such uncertainty to this region.
“Many manufacturers and producers are moving their focus to productivity in Australia and New Zealand,” he said.
“As an industrial automation and information company Rockwell Automation has the opportunity to work with our customers to drive productivity in their businesses.
“I see increased productivity as our customers working existing assets harder and smarter to increase their output. By providing production information to the right person, at the right time, in the right context, and optimising existing process control, I think we can achieve this.”
Meanwhile, the global company has also extended its support of the global FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) program to Australia and New Zealand, in a move it says will open up new opportunities for school students aspiring to become engineers.
Rockwell Automation sponsorship of the FIRST program within Australia and New Zealand builds on its existing ten year association between the two organisations in the United States.
“We are happy to be supporting FIRST locally—the organisation addresses the need for strong preparation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics to improve our communities, create jobs and educate tomorrow’s workforce,” the commercial marketing manager Rockwell Automation South Pacific, Matthew Treeby, said.
In Australia, FIRST is co-ordinated by Professor Michael Heimlich, of Macquarie University’s Faculty of Science.
“We are enjoying getting involved with FIRST and assisting them with direct sponsorship as well as competition events and family fun days,” Treeby said.
“Our involvement with FIRST really demonstrates our company culture of innovation and is part of our Engineering our Future program to promote science, engineering and technology to the next generation.”
Rockwell Automation has appointed David Hegarty to the role of managing director Australia and New Zealand.
