Leadership Team
Routeco is led by a group of passionate and talented individuals, who collectively have many years of experience and knowledge within the industrial sector. The short biographies below give you a brief insight into Routeco's Leadership Team.
Dave Amps – Managing Director
Dave has been the managing director of Routeco since 2020, leading the company's strategic direction. Joining Routeco in 1998 with an HND in Electrical Engineering, his career progression has been marked by a strong technical foundation as a control systems engineer and various roles in product support and technical sales. Before his current role, Dave served as chief operating officer (2018–2020), following appointments as UK sales and marketing director (2017) and UK sales director (2015).
Ollie Keeler – Finance Director
Ollie was appointed finance director in 2025, having initially joined Routeco in 2024 as financial controller. Now a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales, he trained with Deloitte after graduating from Loughborough University with a degree in Economics and Finance. Ollie brings diverse experience from prior roles at major organisations, including Home Retail Group, Mercedes AMG Formula 1, and REKOM. As FD, he oversees all financial reporting, compliance, AP/AR, and Treasury across the entire Routeco Group.
Kevin Payne - Group Sales Director
Kevin took on the role of group sales director in January 2023, responsible for sales leadership across all Routeco UK and Europe. He joined the company in 2002 as an external sales engineer, bringing extensive experience from the control and automation industry. Kevin has consistently progressed through sales leadership, including being appointed UK sales director in 2020, where he focused on adding value for customers and suppliers through leadership of the sales, product specialist, and marketing teams.
Chris Haynes - UK Sales Director
Chris was appointed UK Sales Director in 2023, leading the UK sales, business development, and product specialist teams. He is focused on the execution of the UK sales strategy and the delivery of value-added solutions to the UK customer base. Chris joined Routeco in 2011 with an HNC in Engineering, and quickly progressed from a sales engineer into various management roles, building upon his previous experience in the automation and controls industry.
Michael McGuinness - IT Director Sonepar UK
Michael McGuinness is the IT Director for Sonepar UK, responsible for the IT and Digital Transformation strategy for both Routeco and Mayflex. Michael joined Routeco as MIS manager in 1997 and was appointed IT Director in 2015. He began his career in software development in the early 90s in London, moving into IT Management with spells at Nurdin & Peacock, Nutmeg UK Ltd, and the Vf Corporation, bringing decades of technical leadership to the group.
Keith Harrison - M&A Projects and Commercial Director
Keith Harrison has been with Routeco since 1997 and serves as M&A projects and commercial director. He holds an HNC in Electrical Engineering. Keith initially worked in the System Integrator community before moving into Technical Sales. At Routeco, he started as an area sales manager, progressing to Rockwell business manager, and was appointed Rockwell Business director in 2015. He is responsible for the Rockwell Automation business via Routeco and other strategic alliance partnerships.
Mark Crawford – Group Operations Director
Mark became group operations director in January 2020, responsible for improving operational systems, processes, and policies to optimise customer service and increase efficiency across the Routeco Group. Mark joined Routeco in 2018 with an HNC in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. He spent nearly 20 years prior to joining Routeco at Rockwell Automation in various sales management roles, bringing deep industry knowledge to the operations side of the business.
Damian Spall - Group Technical Director
Damian joined Routeco in 2007 and his role is group technical director. His role includes portfolio and supplier management across the Routeco Group. He holds qualifications in Electronic Engineering and Communications and Information Technology and completed a technical apprenticeship at Schlumberger Industries. Since joining Routeco, Damian has held management positions spanning sales, marketing, and product management, giving him a comprehensive view of the technical landscape.
Phil Huntley - Group Sales Operations Director
Phil has over 30 years of experience in the industrial automation, control, and electrical markets and joined Routeco in 2007. As group sales operations director, he leads the UK Sales operations teams and oversees operations across the Routeco group, including the European offices. Phil’s extensive background includes working in the electrical OEM market in Australia in the '90s, and holding roles at Avnet Abacus and Rockwell Automation before joining Routeco and taking on several leadership positions here.
Stefan Gottwald - Regional Director DACH
Stefan is the Regional Director for DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). A graduate of Vienna University of Economics and Business, he began his career at a global software and high-tech company, developing and heading a global division. He also led the sales, strategic management, and marketing department for an MES software manufacturer. Prior to his current role, he served as Routeco’s Austria sales director.
Luc op den Buijsch - Regional Director Benelux
Luc op den Buijsch joined Routeco in May 2013 as the first employee in the Netherlands and now manages the growing Benelux business. With both a commercial and engineering degree, he has experience as a product specialist, business leader, and branch manager, and in setting up new departments. He is responsible for all operations in Routeco Netherlands and Belgium.
James Jonckers - Country Director Belgium
James Jonckers started at Routeco BV in December 2019 and is the first Routeco employee in Belgium, now running the strongly growing Belgian business as Country Director for Routeco Belux. After earning a degree in Industrial Automation, James started his career as an engineering manager at a specialised machine builder, later moving into various sales management roles within the industry.
Francesco Bocale – Country Director Switzerland
Francesco Bocale serves as the Country Director for Switzerland, bringing decades of extensive expertise in industrial automation and robotics to the leadership team. His career began with 14 years in the machine tool industry, where he progressed from a service technician to Head of Product Management. This was followed by over 20 years in the automation sector, where he held a variety of high-level management positions ranging from sales leadership to executive management within the robotics field.
