Steve Breen appointed Commercial Director – Europe for Eczacıbaşı Building Products

Eczacıbaşı Building Products is delighted to announce the appointment of Steve Breen as Commercial Director – Europe.

Breen brings a wealth of experience, having previously grown businesses for Ideal Standard, Electrolux, AkzoNobel Coatings and SITECH UK. He started his career in 1992 in a retail leadership role, and has since gained over three decades of industry experience. As VitrA UK Country Director from July 2022 to January 2025, Breen made an extremely positive impact by expanding the UK sales team, developing innovative new retail partner initiatives, and overseeing major product launches.

Hasan Pehlivan, CEO of Eczacıbaşı Building Products said: “We are thrilled to welcome Steve Breen as Commercial Director – Europe for Eczacıbaşı Building Products. His wealth of experience and expertise, as well as his excellent knowledge of both the market and our business, makes him ideally placed to drive our business forward.”

Steve Breen said: “It is an immense honour to take up the role of Commercial Director – Europe for Eczacıbaşı Building Products. The company and the VitrA brand are extremely close to my heart, and I am looking forward getting started!”

Press contact:

For further information about VitrA, please contact Fleur Treglown and Emma Foale at Caro Communications: E: vitra@carocommunications.com | T: +44 (0) 20 7713 9388

About VitrA

VitrA is part of the Eczacıbaşı Group, one of Turkey’s most prominent industrial groups. Founded in 1958, VitrA is a leading bathroom manufacturer, which in recent years has expanded into international markets with over 70 per cent of VitrA’s total output now being sold outside of Turkey. From 13 production facilities in Turkey, Germany, France. VitrA produces a full range of bathroom products including over 5.6 million pieces of sanitaryware a year along with complementary bathroom furniture, brassware and accessories ranges, which are distributed to over 75 countries on five” continents. VitrA UK, based in Oxfordshire, has been supplying the UK bathroom market for over 30 years and is an active member of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA) and the British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installation (BiKBBI). In Spring 2021, VitrA opened a flagship showroom in Clerkenwell, London – a creative hub for architects, designers and thinkers with dedicated areas for product specification, events and workshops.

vitrA.co.uk | @VitrABathrooms

About Steve Breen

Steve Breen began his career in 1992 as Store Manager at Sainsbury’s, where he worked until 1999. He then joined Akzo Nobel Coatings where he remained until 2013 as, respectively, Key Account Manager, UK Sales Manager, UK Marine General Manager, Regional General Manager - UK, Germany, Benelux, South & East Africa and lastly as Global Accounts Director. In 2013, he joined Electrolux Major Appliances as Sales Director - Kitchen Retail & Contracts, and from 2016 to 2019, he was Sales Director - UK & Ireland at Ideal Standard International NV. He then joined Finning International as General Manager until July 2022, when he joined VitrA Bathrooms UK and worked as Country Director until January 2025. Most recently, he was CEO at Julian Bowen Furniture.