Logicalis boss states no end to acquisition plans

Ian Cook has been promoted to group chief executive of Logicalis and stated acquisitions will continue to play a key role in the VAR’s expansion.

Previously, Cook was in charge of the firm’s European operations, but he will now run its presence in North and South America, as well as Europe.

During the past 18 months, Logicalis has made seven acquisitions across Europe and the US, and this trend is set to continue under Cook.

“All country managing directors now report to me,” Cook said. “It is business as usual as we continue to grow organically and through acquisitions,” he said.

Jens Montanana, current group chief executive, will assume the role of chairman of Logicalis when Cook takes over his position next March.

Montanana told CRN: “As I move to chairman I will be doing a lot of the same things, but the day-to-day running has been handed to a permanent chief executive. Cook has been with us for three years and we decided he was the most appropriate candidate.”

Montanana added that Logicalis needs more dedicated leadership and the move allows him to concentrate on other aspects of the business.

Keith Humphreys, managing consultant at research firm EuroLAN, said: “Cook has a good management style, but I’m surprised that Montanana has moved away from the day-to-day running of the business, because he has a very hands-on approach.

“These changes will get some continuity across the Logicalis message, but Germany is still its ‘Achilles heel’, and it needs to ramp up its business there.”

Datatec, Logicalis’s parent com-pany, posted a 16 per cent rise in turnover for the first half of 2006, chalking up $1.7bn, compared with $1.4bn in the first half of 2005. Operating profit also rose, by 44 per cent from $30.1m in 2005, to $43.3m during the same period in 2006.

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