Exclusive: Roest leaves DSGi Business

After two years in the hotseat, Jerry Roest will be replaced by COO Martin Dorchester

DSGi Business has confirmed that managing director Jerry Roest is leaving the reseller after two years in charge.

Roest, whose last day is 14 November, will be replaced by acting chief operating officer Martin Dorchester.

Roest became interim managing director of DSGi Business – then known as PC World Business – in May 2006, following the departure of Derek Lloyd. He got the job on a permanent basis in October of the same year (Channelweb, 16 October, 2006).

In a statement, a DSGi representative said: “Jerry has made a significant contribution to the Group; and DSGi Business has made great progress under his leadership. He leaves it as a strong, efficient and unified business which continues to outperform the market.”

Roest’s departure comes two months after DSGi Business entered into a consultation period with around 50 staff (Channelweb, 28 August). This resulted in a number of high profile casualties, including the departure of DSGi group sales director Russell Flowers.

Channel sources indicated that Dorchester would take a more “hands on” approach than his predecessor and focus more on energising the reseller’s core product business than developing new services.