Tech Data closes Avnet TS buyout and unveils managerial manoeuvres

Josh Budd
clock • 2 min read

Patrick Zammit takes European leadership post

Distribution giant Tech Data has completed its $2.6bn (€2.45bn) acquisition of Avnet Technology Solutions (TS) alongside a flurry of new executive appointments to lead the combined entity.

With the deal's completion, Tech Data has announced a series of new appointments who will report to chief operating officer Rich Hume. Patrick Zammit, former president of Avnet TS, has been appointed the European president of the combined organisation. William Chu, Avnet TS's former APAC president takes responsibility for APAC at the joined company while Tech Data's Joe Quaglia maintains his position as president of the Americas. Also coming from the Tech Data side Els Demeester has been appointed vice president of integration, Michael Urban has been assigned vice president of strategy, transformation and global vendor management, and Avnet's Jaideep Malhotra takes the role of president of global computing components.

It is currently unclear whether other former Avnet executives not mentioned in Tech Data's executive line-up have entered new roles. Tech Data's global executive leadership team has meanwhile not seen any changes.

Tech Data first announced plans to acquire the $9.6bn-turnover value-focused datacentre infrastructure, software and services business from Avnet in September last year. The addition will give Tech Data a presence in the APAC region for the first time, and boost its employee count to 14,000 employees with operations across 40 countries globally.

"This is a momentous day in our company's history and we are excited to welcome our talented colleagues at Technology Solutions to the Tech Data family," said Bob Dutkowsky, CEO of Tech Data.

"Our combined company is perfectly positioned at the epicentre of the IT ecosystem — with the scale and scope to serve dynamic markets throughout the world— giving our customers access to an end-to-end portfolio of IT solutions and efficiently bringing our vendors' products to new customers in more markets. Our organisations' common cultures, shared values and commitment to providing a world-class customer experience will serve as the foundation for the new Tech Data. Together, we will be an even stronger company, capable of doing more for our channel partners than ever before. We remain confident that the acquisition of Technology Solutions creates a winning combination for our customers, vendors, and shareholders, as well as the employees of both organisations."

The executive reshuffle comes after news that Tech Data's former European chief Nestor Cano planned to retire once the integration between Tech Data and Avnet TS completed.

You may also like
Tech Data launches new service to assess partners' emissions

Distributor

The move has also seen Tech Data commit to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2045

clock 15 September 2022 • 2 min read
'Big five' lose marketshare, CRN Top Distributors 2022 finds

Distributor

Digging into the trends that define the channel's middle tier...

clock 07 September 2022 • 2 min read
'Our UK channel business has grown exponentially' - Dell channel boss Tomlin on reasons behind Westcoast partnership

Distributor

Rob Tomlin claims that Dell’s UK channel business has doubled in size over the last three years as he opens up on adding Westcoast as its fifth distributor

clock 26 April 2022 • 3 min read

Sign up to our newsletter

The best news, stories, features and photos from the day in one perfectly formed email.

More on Management

Q&A with MSP Innovation Award winner GFI Software

Q&A with MSP Innovation Award winner GFI Software

GFI Software's Derek Nower, SVP, global channel sales on the company's appeal to MSPs

GFI Software
clock 05 September 2023 • 4 min read
XChange Best of Breed 2023: the best shots of day 2

XChange Best of Breed 2023: the best shots of day 2

Here's all the best pics from the second day of CRN's recent XChange event

Andrea Gaini
clock 19 June 2023 • 1 min read
GoTo Channel Chief: 'Every challenge will be met with an opportunity in the coming year'

GoTo Channel Chief: 'Every challenge will be met with an opportunity in the coming year'

CRN caught up with GoTo's vice president of global partner sales, Michael Day to look at the year ahead and the opportunities that face the Unified Communications vendor and its partners

Sara Yirrell
clock 29 November 2022 • 1 min read

Highlights

Staff & Salaries 2022

Staff & Salaries 2022

A snapshot of pay and headcount trends in the UK channel

Doug Woodburn
clock 09 March 2022 • 1 min read
Midwich CEO on Nimans acquisition, 2021 results and return to pre-pandemic levels

Midwich CEO on Nimans acquisition, 2021 results and return to pre-pandemic levels

Stephen Fenby talks to CRN after Midwich’s 2021 results in which profitability exceeded pre-pandemic levels

Josh Budd
clock 08 March 2022 • 3 min read
4 more vendors suspend sales in Russia following Ukraine invasion

4 more vendors suspend sales in Russia following Ukraine invasion

IBM and Microsoft are among a number of vendors which have also announced that they will halt sales in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.

clock 08 March 2022 • 3 min read