Paul Smith – Managing Director
Paul, who was appointed Managing Director of NIBE UK towards the end of 2023, has big plans for the company he now leads: “Our vision is to be the brand of choice in the UK market for customers and our people. As a mature, Global business and the leader in many markets, I believe NIBE is ready to tackle the UK and to become the leading player in the heat pump sector.”
Paul has a great deal of respect for NIBE’s ambition to grow in this country to mirror what the company has achieved in other parts of Europe.
NIBE’s differentiator is, he believes, its brand heritage and pedigree. “We can point to the fact that we are pioneers in the field of domestic heat pumps as well as one of Europe’s largest heat pump manufacturers. We also have a fantastic record of being innovative within the industry in terms of training and that’s something that I want to build upon.”
Paul has a passion for sales management as well as a demonstrable record of building and shaping teams and organisations for success. Indeed, with more than two decades’ experience in the HVAC sector, he has developed key skills to achieve his vision for the business. He comes from a commercial background – first at air movement businesses NuAire before becoming commercial director at air conditioning giant, Carrier, for both the Carrier and Ciat brands – and is, by his own admission, sales-driven and sales-focused.
He says: “I believe I understand how to grow a business through the sales channels, and key elements of this are to deeply understand the needs of the market, the needs of the customer, and the needs of the team.
Paul is delighted to have the opportunity to lead NIBE UK. As he says: “I love the fact that this is a new journey for NIBE and for me. We are setting the bar for growth as we look to address the UK’s heat pump market. So, for me personally, it is a dream appointment and I’m proud to be Managing Director of this innovative and forward-looking company. It is everything that you would expect from a £3 billion global business.
Although Paul’s growth plans are about gaining market share, they also involve being a leader in upskilling the sector through training. As he points out: “This a two-pronged approach. It's about engaging future installers by addressing the youth of today, but it’s also about upskilling the market as existing heating and plumbing engineers look to transition to heat pumps.”
And it is about producing the best heat pump technology. Paul is a big fan of NIBE’s pioneering products, including the S735, an intelligent inverter-controlled Exhaust Air Heat Pump (EAHP), providing heating, hot water and ventilation efficiently and economically.
“Innovation comes in many forms”, Paul concluded, “and NIBE will continue to lead the way on what is an exciting journey for us all.”
Does pineapple belong on pizza?
As long as there is Pizza I don’t mind too much! Got be a meat feast as the go-to though!
What advice would you give your younger self?
I would tell my younger self to be kinder to me, to not overthink or to worry, just to enjoy the moments.
What’s your favourite food?
I am a sucker for fast food and need to remember it’s a treat and not a staple! I do like a good burger though...
What’s your favourite drink?
I’m not much of a drinker unless I am socialising and then it rarely deviates from lager. It’s a bit of a cliché, but I just cannot function without coffee, I love it!
