Magirus sharpens focus with specialist division

Software distributor signs new director to head up dedicated security unit

Distributor Magirus has decided to branch out on its own and launch a dedicated security unit from scratch.

In April, Magirus acquired the European arm of Allasso from rival distributor InTechnology to strengthen its presence in European territories (CRN, 3 April). But until now it has been without a UK security presence.

The distributor has recruited Niall McGrane as director of security, who is tasked with recruiting a specialist security team and sourcing both vendor and reseller partners.

Earlier this year McGrane left his job as divisional director of security at InTechnology to take up a security-based position at Computer 2000 (C2000) (CRN, 15 May).

Speaking to CRN, McGrane said: “I’m very excited about this opportunity. Magirus is a leading European software distributor with a heavy services orientation and a strong reputation in storage. After the acquisition of Allasso, it decided to build a UK security presence which is where I came into play.”

McGrane said he will handpick a selection of best of breed and emerging vendors and will be ‘selective’ in targeting resellers. He added that the initial security team will be around seven strong, and he expects it to be in place by the end of the year.

The move has received a mixed reaction from other distributors.

David Ellis, director of e-security at Computerlinks, said: “This is a big challenge for Magirus. Building a security business from scratch is going to be pretty tough, particularly with the amount of established players already in the market.”

Steve Pearce, chief operating officer at InTechnology, said: “We were all a bit surprised as he had just left us to go to C2000. Now he’s leaving there after a matter of weeks. But I’m sure Niall knows what he is doing.”

Steve Lockie, managing director of C2000, said: “Niall came to us with a strong track record, but things did not work out. We wish him luck.”

Grahame Smee, managing director of equIP said: “The security space is relatively congested, but it is a case of picking vendors very carefully.

“Security is a wide area and covers a lot of technologies. It really depends on which areas Magirus is going to focus on.”