Bunyard leads CCD to new focus

New boss to assume responsibility for operations

Mike Rodwell: There was little opportunity in the PC and print distribution area

Computacenter Distribution (CCD) elevated Jon Bunyard to the new post of general manager as it announced it is pulling out of the PC and commodity printer market.

Bunyard will assume responsibility for CCD’s operations following the distributor’s decision to focus on its solutions-led business. He will report to CCD business unit director Mike Rodwell.

As a result of the refocusing of the business, CRN understands that sales director Andy Chandler is to leave the organisation.

He joined from Centerprise just 15 months ago (Channelweb, 14 August 2007).
In a letter sent to partners last week, Rodwell confirmed the distributor will implement a phased withdrawal from the PC and commodity print distribution.

“PC and print distribution had played an increasingly minor role in the business mix and created little chance for differentiation,” he said.

CCD is not the first distributor to pull back from the volume space recently, with Northamber revealing it is operating a deliberate policy of seeking higher-quality returns rather than turnover for its own sake (Channelweb, 14 November).

Barry Dodhia, marketing manager at VAR Hemini, was not surprised by the move.
“PCs and printers were not really Computacenter’s area of speciality because traditionally it has focused on services,” he said.

“And it is happening throughout the industry, with lots of firms looking at service-oriented, high-yield revenues.”

CCD’s largest vendor partner, HP, declined to comment.