Channel rivals swoop in for Triangle staff

As rumours mount over company's future, competitors move to recruit recently released technical and sales staff

Opportunistic resellers have moved quickly to snap up former Triangle staff as concerns mount over the ailing IBM partner’s future.

Repton and ANS Group are among those to have taken on employees affected by the firm’s restructuring drive.

It is understood the reseller and ISV, which boasts annual sales of about £24m, laid off large swathes of its technical and sales staff at the end of last month.

Its Warrington office, which employed about 20 staff, has closed.

Nick King, chairman of IBM Business partner Apex, said: “It is clear that some valued employees at Triangle are actively seeking new employment and we welcome the chance to take on some highly-skilled workers.”

Despite repeated attempts to contact Triangle, the firm has refused to comment. Suppliers and rivals alike claim Triangle’s refusal to clarify its plans could harm its business.

John Lindley, chief executive of IBM Business partner Portal Partnership, said: “It would be difficult for anything to emerge from this with any longevity associated with it.

“Everyone is looking carefully at which IBM resellers and ISVs they place business with. Just the fact that this level of opacity persists will damage Triangle both now and in the long term,” he said.

King said: “It is sad to see the demise of a long-standing IBM Business partner and it is an indication of how tough market conditions are.”

Triangle chief executive Jim Chapman has remained tight-lipped on events, but last week told the Southern Daily Echo that Triangle is “doing everything in our power to minimise job losses”.