Azlan calms vendors in face-to-face talks

Richard Pryor-Jones becomes general manager as troubled distributor completes restructure of senior management

n Dearb?ail Jordan

Azlan has held a meeting with key vendors to allay fears over issues surrounding its share suspension, as the distributor completed a restructure which saw Richard Pryor-Jones promoted from sales director to general manager and UK director.

The meeting, attended by representatives from Cisco, Bay Networks, IBM, 3Com, Digital and Ascend, was also called by Azlan to inform the vendors about the massive restructuring programme.

Barrie Morgans, chairman and CEO of Azlan, told PC Dealer: ?The meeting allowed me to talk about the new structure. Also a number of people have been concerned about the damaged relationship with vendors.?

He dismissed claims that the meeting had been set up purely to calm vendors? fears about the distributor?s credit line. ?We resolved this with them some time ago, we have been on normal credit terms and resolved this in a matter of three to four weeks,? said Morgans.

The senior management structure for Azlan Group has been finalised and is in keeping with Morgans? intentions to trim down the team (PC Dealer, 3 September), which has seen the departure of a number of UK staff, including three directors.

The group structure now includes Geoff Brough, who will head the Northern region as managing director, and finance director Peter Bertram, who will focus on areas including logistics and stock issues. Ed Arnett will have sole responsibility for training and services as group director of marketing and services.

Morgans denied claims that Azlan UK would become separate from the group, and insisted there were no plans to sell the distributor. He estimated that Azlan UK made up 35 per cent of the total group turnover. Azlan UK, he said, ?had to be pulled up because it is so big?.