Ideal looks to changes ahead
Two key names leave distributor as it starts to implement European restructure
Changes are afoot at distributor Ideal Hardware as CRN understands that Mike Kontowtt, chief executive of OpenPSL, a division of Ideal’s parent company Bell Microproducts, has left the company.
CRN also understands that Loay Lawrence, marketing manager at Ideal, has also parted company with the firm.
Bell Microproducts acquired high-end server and storage distributor – OpenPSL in June last year for $36m (CRN, 27 June 2004). The firm also recently bought the assets and select liabilities of German storage distributor MCE for an undisclosed sum (CRN, 21 November).
As a result of the MCE acquisition CRN revealed that Don Bell, president and chief executive of Bell, will be based in the UK for several months to oversee the integration of MCE and also execute Bell’s European restructure (CRN, 5 December).
A source close to the company said: “It was pretty much on the cards that changes would start happening. The fact that Don is taking more active involvement in Europe is welcome news because it means more focus.”
Ideal was unavailable for comment.