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Farnell announces strategic leadership appointments

Farnell announces strategic leadership appointments

Farnell has announced the appointment of two sales leaders to drive growth and strengthen customer engagement across the EMEA and Americas regions.

Daniel Ford joins Farnell as Vice President of its EMEA sales organisation. With over 21 years of experience at Future Electronics, Daniel is highly regarded for his contributions to sales growth in the UK, Ireland, Nordics and Baltics. His knowledge of the electronics components market, coupled with long-standing customer and supplier relationships plus extensive experience of managing teams across nine countries, ideally positions him to lead Farnell’s EMEA Sales team.

Daniel Ford

Richard Diaz steps into the role of Vice President of Sales for the Americas. With over 25 years of strategic leadership and development experience, Richard has consistently achieved profitability and market share growth in his previous roles. As Chief Operating Officer at Abracon, he was responsible for sales, business development, and asset management, building on his extensive experience at both supplier and competitor companies.


Richard Diaz

Known for implementing metric-driven strategies, Richard is set to enhance Newark’s profitability and support automation initiatives to boost efficiency. His familiarity with Avnet, where he previously served as a vice president, will further accelerate joint Avnet and Farnell initiatives across the Americas.

Daniel Ford, Vice President of EMEA Sales, Farnell, stated: “I’m thrilled to join Farnell and lead the EMEA sales team at what is an exciting time for the business. Farnell has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality products and excellent service to customers across the region, and I look forward to leveraging my industry experience and relationships to build on this success. I’m eager to collaborate with our customers and partners to drive growth, deepen engagement, and support Farnell’s mission to deliver exceptional value in the electronics supply chain.”

Richard Diaz, Vice President of Americas Sales, Farnell, stated: “I’m honoured to step into this role with Farnell and lead the Americas sales team as we continue to support our customers’ evolving needs. With Farnell’s robust portfolio and our strategic alignment with Avnet, we’re uniquely positioned to deliver impactful solutions. I look forward to applying my experience in strategic sales management and digital transformation to accelerate growth, improve efficiency, and drive profitability in the Americas.”

Rebeca Obregon, President of Farnell, added: “We are pleased to welcome both Daniel and Richard to our leadership team at such a pivotal time for Farnell. Their deep industry expertise and impressive records of driving growth and strengthening customer relationships make them ideal leaders to support our ambitious plans in EMEA and the Americas. Daniel’s success in expanding sales across Europe and Richard’s strategic vision for the Americas will help us continue to deliver outstanding value to our customers and partners.”

Managing Editor
Paige Hookway is the Managing Editor of Procurement Pro, where she brings over a decade of industry experience to shaping insightful, engaging, and forward-thinking content for the global electronics community. After graduating from the University of Greenwich with a 2:1 in English Literature, Paige blended her love of storytelling with a deep curiosity for technology – carving out a career that champions both innovation and the people behind it. Across her 10+ years in the sector, Paige has developed a strong reputation for uncovering emerging trends, translating complex concepts into accessible insights, and spotlighting the voices shaping the future of engineering. She is particularly passionate about encouraging the next generation of engineers and elevating women in tech narratives that inspire, empower, and drive meaningful change. When she’s not immersed in the latest engineering developments, Paige can be found wrapped up in a blanket with a cup of tea and a good book.