Channel laments Equanet Surbiton closure

As DSGi calls time on Surrey office, ex-boss laments "sad day" for building that once housed "one of the industry's best sales teams"

End of an era: Ex-Equanet chief Paul Barlow claimed "a lot of hard work went into building that office"

The closure of reseller Equanet's Surbiton office has been lamented by channel onlookers, including its former boss.

Parent company DSG international (DSGi) drew the shutters today, informing 18 staff they had a month's consultation period in which to find other posts in the group. A DSGi statement said: "We will work closely with these employees and offer a full range of support, including career and placement consultation."

All accounts handled by the office will be taken over by Equanet's premises in Bury and Borehamwood. DSGi claimed today's move was "part of the ongoing transformation of DSGi's B2B operations".

The statement added: "These changes are part of the transformation programme that will deliver an efficient, more customer-focused organisation that will sustain the business for future growth."

Sources have told CRN in recent weeks that the Surbiton site has lost a number of sales heads. Others appear to have itchy feet, with one source claiming last month to have been sent a number of applications from disquieted Equanet staff.

Paul Barlow, who was managing director of Equanet upon its sale to DSG in 2005, expressed his sadness at the demise of the firm's Surbiton operations.

"This is a great shame," he said. "In its heyday, the office in Surbiton had one of the best sales teams in the industry. It is a shame it has closed due to changes in circumstances and ownership.

"This is a sad day as a lot of hard work went into building that office. A lot of really good people worked there and this is the end of an era, but life moves on."