Stewart Gregory: Championing Our Industry for Over 30 Years

A Legacy That Defines an Industry

Stewart Gregory is an absolute legend of our industry, with nearly 40 years of experience, 35 years serving as Vice President of Schneider Electric, over 20 years on the Electrical Industries Charity, serving 3 years as EIC President, steering the ship during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even after his retirement from Schneider in 2023, Stewart remained a passionate and active champion of the industry and a stalwart of our charity. As he steps down as trustee, we want to thank him for his incredible contribution to our industry and his generous support of the work we do, helping our community through the tough times.

After more than three decades with the company, including nearly twenty years leading the Power Products division, Stewart’s retirement from Schneider marked the end of a remarkable chapter. Schneider praised the significance of Stewart’s impact, recognising his hard work, dedication and the lasting effect he had on customers and the wider industry. He is someone who helped steer so much of the shift from traditional manual systems to the connected, digitised world we now work in.

A Career That Shaped Modern Electrical Work

If you spent any time in the sector, you would have crossed paths with Stewart’s influence whether you realised it or not. His career spanned the biggest transformations the industry has ever seen. What he always emphasised, though, was that technology was only half the story. Culture, expectations and workplace norms shifted dramatically during his time. He remembers the early days of rigid hierarchies and behaviour that would not be tolerated now. He saw the sector become more open, more accountable and more aware of the intense pressure young people face as they enter the profession. Stewart was never afraid to say things plainly. Change happens; you either get on with it or you make a different choice. That straight talking earned him huge respect.

Championing the EIC

Stewart joined the EIC Board in 2004 at a moment when the Charity was at risk of fading altogether. The old EEIBA was down to a skeleton team and momentum had all but disappeared. Stewart was one of the people who refused to let it decline. He helped restructure and rebuild it from the ground up, pushing for modernisation and stronger industry engagement. The Charity is now a recognised national support service for thousands of people, that simply would not exist without the work he, and his fellow trustees put in two decades ago.

Leading with Calm and Clarity

His EIC presidency was a defining period. COVID hit the industry like a freight train, creating the largest drop in income in a century while demand for support surged. Stewart worked closely with the EIC team, helping to navigate closures, uncertainty, digital transitions, and the emotional toll hitting people across the sector. There were no shortcuts and no easy decisions during those years. His calm, pragmatic leadership helped keep the Charity steady and ensured people continued to receive support when they needed it most.

Opening the Door for Future Leaders

Stewart also understood the urgent need to bring younger voices into the fold. He championed the Emerging Board, pushed for more accessible engagement and kept repeating the same message: if the next generation does not understand the EIC or see its relevance, the future is at risk. He was right and that mindset has shaped much of the Charity’s work since.

Commitment Beyond Retirement

Even after stepping away from full-time industry life, Stewart stayed committed to the EIC. He remained on the Board long after his extended presidency term ended, helping to ensure consistency and stability during the ensuing years. Retirement, for Stewart, was about choosing how to spend his time, not stepping back from the community he cared about.

He often said that this stage of life is about slowing down, doing what matters and recognising how quickly things can change. That attitude shaped his career, his leadership, and his service to the industry. And while he is leaving his formal role as trustee, the EIC is stronger, steadier, and more future-focused because of the groundwork he helped lay.

A Lasting Impact

From all of us at the Electrical Industries Charity, thank you, Stewart. Thank you for the years of graft, the honesty, the guidance, and the commitment you brought to every challenge. We wish you all the very best for the chapter ahead.