BEAMA announces its new President and Vice President

03 Dec 2020

BEAMA, the UK trade association for manufacturers and providers of energy infrastructure technologies and systems, today announces Mike Hughes, President of Schneider Electric UK and Ireland as its new BEAMA President and Erika Wilson, Managing Director of Wilson Power Solutions as its new Vice President to support and develop the increasing activities of the trade association following on from Patrick Cager-Smith of GEO.

Mike Hughes has been with Schneider Electric for more than 20 years and during this time has had a diverse international career.  He currently heads up the Schneider Electric business in the UK and Ireland zone with responsibility for the operations of the group within the Zone.  In his previous roles he led the global strategic accounts, commercial organization of the group and prior to that he managed the secure power and datacenter business in EMEA.  Earlier in his career he led the Industrial automation business Unit in China and headed up the Schneider Electric business in Taiwan.  Mike started his career in the Industrial motion control and automation business out of the black forest in Germany.  

Mike has commented on his appointment saying “ Working alongside the BEAMA board and Patrick Cager-Smith of GEO,  has certainly been a great experience over the last three years , particularly being part of the senior Sector Council that was launched earlier this year, which has been an instrumental in getting people in the industry together and aligning our positions on what is a very changing market at this moment in time. It is my honor to be considered for this role. I believe my experience coming from Schneider Electric, not just in the UK and Ireland, but also my background globally, can certainly be of use. 

I've certainly learned a lot personally in the last three years through BEAMA and through networking with the senior Sector Council around. What are the key themes that, as an industry we are facing and it really is an unprecedented and exciting time for our trade Association. If we look at what is ahead of us in the next years.”

Erika Wilson joint Managing Director of Leeds based transformer manufacturer, Wilson Power Solutions. With a wealth of experience in both power engineering and business development, Erika is a regular speaker at leading industry events and board member of BEAMA, principal trade organisation representing manufacturers of electrical infrastructure products.

Erika joined the family business straight after school during which she studied electrical & electronic engineering and later gained a qualification in business and finance.

Erika has played an integral part in the development of WPS pioneering amorphous core transformers and is passionate about reducing energy wastage in power distribution networks and emerging technologies.

Erika, commented on her appointing as the new Vice President saying “As BEAMA’s first elected female Vice President  my key is on Decarbonisation as one of my main interests and i plan to support BEAMA’s staff and utilise its exposure to review policies, propose schemes and launch campaigns to allow the industry to better deliver on the Net Zero and Green Industrial Revolution promises. Through a collective effort approach, I aspire to support the involvement of BEAMA in these key activities whilst keeping the benefit of its members at the heart of every decision.”