Philips signs up Ingram Micro

Vendor expands an existing European relationship to cover the UK, giving the distributor access to its plasma screens and consumer products.

Ingram Micro UK has signed a distribution agreement with Philips Consumer Electronics.
Under the terms of the agreement, Ingram will distribute the technology vendor's monitors and large screen and peripherals range. The deal is an expansion to an existing pan-European distribution agreement between Philips and Ingram.

Bhavesh Patel, commercial director at Ingram Micro UK, said: "This agreement underlines our focus on the consumer electronics market and our determination to provide our reseller base with a product offering that allows them to fully address and exploit the booming convergence opportunity.

"This agreement with such a high-profile vendor represents a clear signal of intent from Ingram Micro UK."

Nigel Grayston, sales director at Philips business to business said: "I'm delighted that Ingram Micro is now coming on board in the UK, an agreement that extends the successful pan-European relationship between the two companies.

"Ingram Micro will now have access to Philips PC peripheral products and monitors, and with their experienced and enthusiastic sales teams, targeted marketing and an extensive reseller base, we are all looking forward to a mutually beneficial relationship."

The addition of Ingram Micro as a UK distributor for Philips pushes the vendor's total number of UK distributors up to five, in addition to Micro Peripherals, Northamber, Computer 2000 and Midwich.

The announcement will comes just weeks after rival distributor Westcoast lost its distribution agreement with Philips after just six weeks. At the time of the announcement, the vendor claimed the agreement came to an end owing to " commercially mutual reasons" (CRN, 25 September).