CompTIA-TCA merger well received

Industry welcomes move after global trade association swallowed smaller counterpart TCA last week

Matthew Poyiadgi: Merger will stop us operating against each other

The union of the TCA and CompTIA has been welcomed by the channel after the two industry bodies joined forces last week.

As revealed by ChannelWeb last week, global trade association CompTIA has absorbed the UK-based TCA, with the TCA brand set to disappear on 1 November and become part of the CompTIA Community.

Matthew Poyiadgi, vice president, international at CompTIA, said: “We are two associations trying to serve the same people. This will bring the two together and stop us operating against each other with the same objectives.”

Robert French, chairman of the TCA, said: “The move benefits members of both organisations by utilising the expertise and resources, in turn strengthening development of channel through collaboration. Key areas are raising the bar in professionalism and standards for vendors, distributors and resellers, which will enhance their businesses and in doing so deliver better services.”

Derek Jones, a former chairman of the TCA and now managing director of Synaxon UK, felt the marriage would work well.

“This is a merger that has been a long time in the planning, having been talked about at PCA board meetings since CompTIA first emerged in the UK over three years ago,” he said. “I see the merger as a positive move and one that will enhance the value of TCA membership to Synaxon members, meaning they have access to all the services and resources on offer from CompTIA, as well as the benefits of being part of the TCA.”

Ann Keefe, regional director UK and Ireland at Kingston Technology, also welcomed the move.

“We have been an active member of the TCA for several year and from what I have seen CompTIA will complement the TCA nicely,” she said. “The alliance should give us access to more members from different channel sectors and that can only be a good thing.”

Mark Lambert, managing director of VAR BearIT, said: “I think this is just what the TCA needs – more weight and oomph behind it and it will help them work more efficiently.”

Phylip Morgan, managing director of buying group NBG, agreed.

“The one thing I learnt during my time as a reseller before NBG was how isolated, disconnected and uncollaborative the UK channel is. Anything that can highlight the efficiencies of working together is obviously going to improve the industry. Smaller trade associations have to work more strategically together if they are to make a real difference and become a force to be reckoned with.”

Distribution giant Computer 2000 (C2000) also threw its weight behind the merger.

Andy Dow, group marketing director at C2000, said: “The alliance between CompTIA and the TCA will create a strong and well-resourced organisation that will be able to continue the good work that both of these trade bodies have been doing.

"As a united force, they will be able to do even more to promote and advance higher standards of professionalism and encourage the further development of skills and best business practice among IT resellers and suppliers. C2000 has itself made very significant investments in these areas and we will work with the new CompTIA Community to pursue these shared goals and the interests of the whole ICT community.”