Horizon Technology renames divisions after Clarity sale

Distributor Horizon Technology is re-branding its five divisions, in an attempt to unify and clarify its disparate operating arms.

Following the distributor’s recent sale of its Irish distribution division, Clarity Distribution Ireland, to Westcoast for 118.6m euros (CRN, 4 September), it has taken the decision to rename its five UK arms with the Horizon brand.

Clarity Technology, equIP Technology, Enterprise Systems, Data Management and Solutions will all, over the coming months, feature ‘Horizon’ in their titles.

Simon Welch, marketing director at Horizon UK, told CRN that the company does not want to cause any confusion among its end-users.

“This is about creating a clearer brand image,” he said. “Over the past few years we’ve seen a rapid expansion. There was some confusion over the different divisions of the business, such as Clarity Ireland.”

The distribution group has also already completed a centralisation of its back-office operations, including finance, human resources, facilities and legal and technical infrastructure.

However, Welch denied that the centralisation move is an attempt to cut costs.

“Our back office has been centralised over the past year, but what we haven’t done is to centralise our customer-facing divisions. That’s just not right for our business,” he said.

Alex Tatham, director of commercial products at Bell Microproducts Europe, told CRN: “It still feels as if Horizon is not quite one company, but this is a step in a journey to help customers feel more confident and clear about the divisions of its company.”

Last month, Horizon Technology Group posted a 39.5 per cent year-on-year rise in turnover for the first half of 2006. Turnover for the six months to 30 June was 131.2m euros, up from the 94m euros posted in the same period of 2005 (CRN, 14 September).

>> Further reading:

First-half profit up at Horizon Technology Group

Westcoast buys Clarity Distribution

Westcoast acquires Clarity Ireland