Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Europe (MHIE) is stepping up its air conditioning presence in mainland Europe with the appointment of London-based industry specialists to co-ordinate continental sales, focusing on growth of the KX6 VRF range. It has appointed Des Franklin and Louis Sullivan to strategically develop product sales and international key account business through the network of 27 MHIE distributors who cover Europe from Hamburg to Marseilles. Both have extensive experience of the air conditioning distribution business and the MHI product range, having previously worked for a UK distributor of MHI equipment.

“Our KX6 VRF range is poised to make MHIE one of the biggest air conditioning brands in Europe,” says Des Franklin, European sales manager. “We already have a strong network of distributors with a great pedigree across the Continent – one of them is celebrating 40-years in partnership with MHIE this year. The challenge now is to get territories to work together to develop their markets to the full and to cross pollinate additional business opportunities and increase MHIE sales revenues throughout Europe.”  

With more than 20 years experience of the air conditioning and refrigeration industries, Des Franklin joins MHIE from one of its UK distributors 3D Air Sales, where he was sales director. In his new role Des is responsible for developing VRF business in specific territories as well as key account business across Europe.

Louis Sullivan, a former technical sales co-ordinator at 3D Air Sales, returns to air conditioning after a stint in the marketing department of an architectural facades company. He joins MHIE’s European sales team in a support role, focusing on key accounts throughout Europe. Office based, Louis provides technical support to MHIE’s European distributor network. “My task is to help all our European distributors to grow their businesses, with technical, marketing and logistics support.”