Frontline?s Mack walks willingly into Ilion?s den

Mack?s arrival at recently renamed Persona raises question mark over two senior employees

Allan Mack, the former deputy managing director of Frontline, has been poached to take day-to-day responsibility for networking specialist Persona, which was renamed Ilion this week.

Mack is due to join Ilion on 21 July as managing director. He has been at Frontline for nine-and-a-half years and was responsible for running Unix and Cad Frontline subsidiary Datech 2000.

In May, Computer 2000 rejigged the organisational structure of its UK subsidiaries, Frontline and Datech 2000, creating a four-strong supervisory board. As part of the changes, Graeme Watt, Frontline?s joint MD, assumed total control as group MD. Mack became deputy MD with added responsibilities as group marketing director (PC Dealer, 14 May).

Watt denied that the management changes two months ago had any effect on Mack?s resignation, claiming that it was a coincidence.

?I am going to miss Allan, who is extremely good at his job as well as being a personal friend. I hope that we can remain good buddies,? said Watt.

But one source claimed: ?I should imagine that Graeme is going around with a painted smile on his face. He will really miss Mackie.?

As a result of Mack?s departure, Watt will take over responsibility for product marketing while the management team will assume Mack?s day-to-day responsibilities.

Ilion chairman Wayne Channon said: ?It is great for us and great for him. I wanted someone very experienced from the industry and Mack has the most experience.? He said Mack was brought on board to continue the distributor?s growth but not to expand its product range.

But Mack?s appointment is likely to upset Lynette Summerfield, who was promoted to acting general manager after the departure of former MD Roger Paul, and Charles Stewart, who was sales manager. Both are believed to have wanted the position. Channon said he did not envisage any problems.