Alfa Laval UK & Ireland names new Managing Director

Alfa Laval UK & Ireland has appointed Alessandro Bracco as Managing Director as it sharpens its focus on growth in sectors including data centres.

He succeeds Rachel Bridges, who has become Portfolio Unit President of Growth and Partnerships for the Ocean Division. Bracco takes on the role after five years at Alfa Laval and a 20-year career spanning B2B sales, marketing, and commercial strategy.

His appointment puts an executive with experience in finance, renewable energy, and building materials at the head of the UK and Ireland business. Alfa Laval has operated in the region for more than a century and is known for products and systems in heat transfer, separation, and fluid handling.

Data centres are among the sectors highlighted in the company's growth plans. The focus comes as operators across the UK face rising pressure to manage electricity demand and cooling needs while supporting expanding digital infrastructure.

Bracco linked the opportunity in data centres to wider market conditions and the company's emphasis on efficiency. His comments also pointed to the role energy use and decarbonisation are likely to play in shaping demand across industrial and commercial markets.

"There has never been a more exciting time to take the helm at Alfa Laval," said Alessandro Bracco, Managing Director, Alfa Laval UK & Ireland.

"While challenges persist in the market, there are also opportunities, particularly in the data centres sector.

"Despite being a Scandinavian company, Alfa Laval UK has been established in the UK & Ireland for well over 100 years. I'd like to think this has shaped my style of leadership, which is the product of both British and Swedish approaches to business: empowerment and trust, but above all pragmatism and efficiency."

Growth focus

The leadership change comes as the company looks to build on existing momentum in the UK market while directing more attention to selected segments. That suggests Alfa Laval sees room to expand in areas where heat management, process efficiency, and energy use are under greater scrutiny.

This is especially relevant for data centres. Demand for computing infrastructure has risen sharply, while developers and operators face pressure from customers, planners, and energy networks to reduce waste and make better use of power and cooling systems.

Bracco said he intends to maintain the direction already established in the business while pursuing new areas for expansion. He also placed that effort within the context of the UK's broader decarbonisation agenda.

"Alfa Laval UK has enjoyed a steady trajectory of growth for many years. In my new role, I aim to build on the strong foundations that Rachel and her predecessors have put in place, maintaining what is already being done well while also targeting areas where we can make new strides.

"The UK's decarbonisation journey presents both challenges and opportunities in every sector, with data centres no exception, while power demand continues to grow. At Alfa Laval, we believe that a kilowatt-hour saved is better than a kilowatt-hour created, and the concept of efficiency, in every sense of the word, will continue to be a driving force behind our business strategy."

Leadership shift

Bridges' move to a group role in growth and partnerships for the ocean business marks a broader leadership reshuffle rather than a simple replacement. It also suggests the UK and Ireland operation remains an important part of the company's regional and divisional structure, given the internal promotion and transfer of responsibilities.

Bracco's background in commercial strategy may prove significant as Alfa Laval targets sectors where investment decisions are closely tied to operating costs and energy performance. In markets such as data centres, customers are weighing not only expansion needs but also the long-term cost of electricity, cooling, and compliance with environmental targets.

His remarks suggest efficiency will sit at the centre of the company's pitch in the UK and Ireland.