‘The AI push is driving our growth’: Onnec UK boss on harnessing new tech and the power of perspectives

Claire Keelan shares her thoughts on the AI rush, the importance of diversity, and her leadership style

Claire Keelan, Onnec’s first-ever UK MD, sees the company as a major cog in the AI machine, supported by its heterogenic yet complementary workforce.

After spending over a decade at Johnson Controls, assuming different leadership roles across the UKI and EMEA, Keelan tells CRN in an exclusive interview that she joined the firm to get “behind the drive that is happening in the world of AI.”

“The AI push is driving our growth,” she says.

“We love that we are part of the rush, even though we do not know what it will ultimately look like.”

By working across 13 entities, the MD learnt how to understand and adapt to different regulations, subcontractors, procurements, cultures, processes and logistics.

As Onnec is growing around Europe, with for example its expansion into Finland earlier this year, Keelan will aim to bring her knowledge in scaling throughout regions, all while leading the UK.

“I can be connected across both and have visibility and transparency.”

In her role, she will also focus on strengthening the resilience of the organisation’s infrastructure.

This will be achieved by Onnec recognising the maturity of its own processes and systems, explains the UK boss.

“Aspiring to do everything is great, but reality can quickly bite you if you do not have a thorough understanding of resilience in your structure.”

‘Diversity is core to everything we do’

Among its British workforce, the firm counts people from different countries such as South Africa, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

These foreign team members’ international expertise adds value to Onnec, highlights Keelan.

Despite macro changes such as Brexit, the reseller’s UK arm still sees many applicants working on visas.

“Talent is still coming into the UK. People often wonder if they go to the US or Europe, but talent is coming here.”

The leader considers diversity as being core to everything the company does.

“Here, everyone has a voice. Not for the sake of it, but if you have a concern, you can raise it. Lean structure helps.”

Keelan values perspective pluralism as she has observed first-hand the power of sharing different stances.

The MD considers herself lucky that, in her early career, she met a boss who was ahead of his time on diversity and equity.

“He showed what good leadership was,

“The fundamentals of how I gained confidence came from him.

“I replicate fairness, letting people be heard and building the confidence of young talent.

“I have seen people be complicit in behaviour that does not support confidence. That is as big a crime as the behaviour itself.”

The UK boss adds that she mentors many females in the industry, formally and informally.

She also promotes internal reviewing among members of different teams within a company.

“If operations do something, it should be critiqued by finance and sales. That is valuable.”