Simmons Magee duo take key Bytes roles

High level departures at the Richmond-based reseller continue in wake of takeover by Info Products

Ex-Simmons Magee managing director Simon Ognall and former marketing manager Tim Hall have surprised the industry by joining small reseller outfit Bytes Computers.

The appointments marked a turning point for Shaun Frohlich who becomes chairman after handing over the role of managing director to Ognall. Hall will be marketing manager at Bytes. Both will take up the roles in June.

Ognall worked at top 20 UK reseller Simmons Magee for seven years. Simmons Magee was bought by Dutch firm Info Products in March (PC Dealer, 5 March).

Talking to PC Dealer, Ognall said: ?I discussed a number of opportunities with John Trueman [managing director of Info Products] but none of them were appropriate because I don?t want to work in Europe or move house.

?I am used to running the show and Trueman runs it at Info Products. Four companies approached me, but I liked Bytes because it?s a brilliant platform for growth and a fun culture. I?m thrilled to be joining.?

Frohlich claimed to have been searching for a managing director for the past 18 months to help grow Bytes? business.

?Simon is a real coup for Bytes,? said Frohlich. ?He has twice before grown companies from sub-#20 million to #60 million [at Simmons and Bonsai]. He is the right man for the job and it is the right job for the man.?

Meanwhile the restructuring at Info Products continued this week with the impending departure of financial director Simon Hosking. According to Trueman, Hosking will leave the reseller to take up a new role.

Senior management appointments are expected to be finalised this week. Trueman also stated that the reseller was seeking other acquisition opportunities in the UK, such as ?niche-bolt-in-services? as well as software licensing.