Signify taps former Schneider VP to lead its business in UK & Ireland

Signify has announced that Nico Van der Merwe has taken over as the CEO of its UK & Ireland business.

Van der Merwe is a veteran of the electrical industry, having spent the last 15 years at Schneider Electric, most recently as the company’s Vice President for Home & Distribution in the UK and Ireland. 

Prior to his most recent role at Schneider, Van der Merwe has had quite the career. He began in Sub-Saharan Africa, where he worked in sales, marketing and general management roles, before taking the position of Vice President Channel Development - Europe, based in France. Throughout his international career, Van der Merwe has demonstrated a track record of developing and implementing new business models and delivering sustainable results. 

Speaking of his appointment, Van der Merwe noted, “I’m excited to join Signify as CEO of UK & Ireland, and look forward to working with the teams further to derive our lighting innovations in this dynamic market.

“Signify is a company with a rich heritage, a powerful product portfolio, a talented team, and a strong leadership position in sustainability. I am sure we are well positioned to further grow the business and industry while continuing to make a positive impact on society and the environment through our innovations. The UK and Ireland have exciting opportunity in the market for us and our customers.”

Prior to Van der Merwe’s appointment, the role of CEO at Signify UK & Ireland was most recently held by Stephen Rouatt, who was appointed to the role back in November 2020. Rouatt featured on an episode of the Powered On Podcast, where he discussed how Signify is lighting the way for sustainable operations. Van der Merwe will likely continue to put sustainability at the forefront of Signify UK & Ireland, with the global company achieving carbon neutrality across all of its businesses in October 2020. 

Based in Guildford, Van der Merwe will report to Maria Letizia Mariani, CCO of Signify.