Azlan poaches Walker to head storage push

Perkins: Mark will bring a huge amount of credibility to our business

Computer 2000 (C2000) has poached Mark Walker from rival Avnet to spearhead its assault on the enterprise server and storage space.

Walker is set to join as UK director of server and storage at the distributor’s enterprise arm, Azlan, in February. He is currently EMEA director of storage at Avnet.

Although C2000 parent Tech Data boasts a strong mid-range pedigree in continental Europe, enterprise infrastructure has never been its strong suit in the UK.

Lee Perkins, C2000’s country manager UK & Ireland, claimed that is all set to change with Walker’s appointment.

He told CRN: “We have been in the UK server and storage market for many years but have never managed to break through [in the mid-range space] due to established competition. We are trying to create something unique and compelling for the vendors that the existing distributors have not been able to deliver.”

Perkins added: “We are delighted to have secured a recognised figure in the storage market in Mark; he will bring a huge amount of credibility to our business.”

C2000 is believed to have narrowly lost out to arch-rival Ingram Micro in the race to buy Computacenter’s distribution arm, CCD. C2000 already boasts volume server and storage contracts with HP but CCD would have given it more cloud at the higher end.

And Perkins would not rule out acquisitions to help it challenge the likes of DNS Arrow and Bell Micro in the enterprise space.

“This is an organic play,” he said. “We are bringing in some great people but I wouldn’t rule out anything in the future.”

Sukh Rayat, senior vice president sales at Avnet Technology Solutions EMEA, confirmed in a statement: "Mark Walker will be leaving Avnet in January. Until then he remains focused on supporting Avnet achieve its objectives. Avnet will announce his successor in due course. We wish Mark well in the future."