Rockwell names Karen Hannify to lead APAC EPC alliances

Rockwell Automation has appointed Karen Hannify as Head of Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) alliances for the Asia-Pacific region, as it increases engagement with EPC firms working on major industrial and infrastructure projects.

The role focuses on relationships with engineering and construction contractors that manage projects from concept to delivery. EPC firms act as a single point of responsibility for clients, overseeing engineering design, procurement of equipment and materials, and construction. They often work in mining, oil and gas, power generation, and chemicals.

Hannify has more than 20 years of international experience in the technology sector. Most of her career was at IBM, where she held senior roles in partner strategy and growth. Her work included global and regional responsibilities, such as leading worldwide partner programmes and heading Asia-Pacific partner programme teams.

At Rockwell, she will manage alliances across a contractor landscape that often brings together multiple technology suppliers, systems integrators, and construction partners on a single project. Industrial automation vendors typically work through these channels on large build programmes, where decisions on control systems, software, and instrumentation are part of the overall engineering package.

Partner focus

On large capital projects, EPC companies often define technical standards and manage procurement decisions across multiple stakeholders. This can make them influential intermediaries between technology providers and end customers, particularly where site schedules and commissioning milestones drive purchasing and deployment.

Polo Paredes, Director, Global EPC Alliances at Rockwell Automation, said Hannify brings experience across a wide range of partner models. "Karen has a deep understanding of partner models across distributors, systems integrators, and strategic alliance partners, making her a valuable addition to the Rockwell team," he said.

Rockwell has identified the EPC segment as a growing focus for its industrial automation business, which includes hardware, software, and services used in manufacturing and process industries. Its approach includes an alliance programme intended to link technology suppliers with construction delivery work.

"Working with EPC companies is an increasingly important focus area for Rockwell Automation. To support this, we have created an alliance program designed to bring together technology and construction - enabling us to stand up factories together on time, on budget, and with customer driven outcomes," Paredes said.

Regional role

Hannify joined Rockwell in January 2026 and is based in Sydney. She will cover a region that includes mature industrial automation markets and major investment pipelines tied to energy, resources, and infrastructure programmes.

Her experience in partner recruitment, incentives, enablement, and marketing aligns with alliance teams that manage indirect sales and delivery channels. In EPC environments, vendors often rely on structured partner programmes to stay engaged through long project cycles, where requirements can change across engineering design, procurement, and construction phases.

The appointment also reflects a broader trend in industrial technology markets, where major build programmes increasingly involve hybrid combinations of operational technology and IT systems. EPC firms have expanded their role in digital scope over time, particularly as project owners ask contractors to include data systems and connectivity alongside traditional plant design and construction work.

Rockwell describes itself as a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation. It is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and employs about 26,000 people in more than 100 countries.

The Asia-Pacific appointment adds a dedicated senior leader for EPC alliances as Rockwell expands its partner network with contractors involved in large-scale industrial projects.