IP's Lowry gets comfy in MD seat

Texas Instruments ex-employee John Lowry has stepped into the hot seat at Info' Products by taking over the role of UK managing director from Huib Winkel.

Winkel, who temporarily took up the post after John Trueman left the reseller in January, relinquished the post of managing director on 28 August.

An industry source said: 'Lowry has certainly inherited a snake pit.

But Info'Products needed to do something radical as it has hardly any credibility left with suppliers and staff.'

He added: 'I have no idea who this man is - he is certainly not a channel figure.'

Lowry, who took up the post on 28 August, has previously held a number of senior positions at companies including IBM and Anderson Consulting.

Info'Products has been plagued by problems since the beginning of the year, including the departures of human resources director Simon Norris, director of business development Howard Dickel and sales director Norman Kough, after losses of over #10 million were uncovered (PC Dealer, 29 April).

None of the vacated seats have been filled, but industry sources claimed that company morale was still declining and more staff are expected to leave.

Lowry's appointment coincided with the announcement that Info'Products Europe had formed a global deal with US company Entex and Otsuka Shokai in Japan. The three systems integrators, with combined turnover of $8.5 billion, will trade as a limited liability company.

Info'Products confirmed Lowry's appointment as managing director but refused to comment further.