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O’Carroll succeeds Bangs as MD of SMC in the UK
Published:  29 June, 2015

Kevin O’Carroll has been appointed managing director of SMC Pneumatics (UK), succeeding Steve Bangs who has stepped down after leading the company for 17 years. O’Carroll, who has been with SMC for 28 years, was previously assistant MD.

Bangs joined the UK subsidiary of the Japanese-owned SMC Corporation SMC in 1984, as sales manager. He was appointed MD in 1998. In 2014, he was promoted to SMC’s board of directors with responsibility for its European operations. He will continue to work for SMC as corporate advisor.

“After 31 years with SMC, it’s been very gratifying to be a part of the success and growth we have achieved,” says Bangs.

Kevin O’Carroll has no plans to make radical changes at SMC. “Steve will be a hard act to follow, and it’s because of his leadership that SMC UK is so well-respected by the board of directors of SMC Corporation,” O’Carroll says. “He steered us through some difficult times and we’ve come through even stronger, so I don’t plan to make any wholesale changes to the way we operate.

O'Carroll: no plans for radical changes

“I’ve grown up in this company and we have a first-class management team that wants the best ­– not just for employees but for all our customers and sales partners too,” he adds. “I’m looking forward to building on the foundations that Steve has put in place and taking SMC forward into the next era”.