Logitek proposal angers Ascend partners

Ascend has stirred up a storm of controversy over plans to recruit Logitek after its partners feared any addition would would mean its products were over-distributed.

According to Phil Herbert, Logitek product manager, discussions with Ascend have been in progress since May over the distributor joining the vendor's other partners Azlan, Data Connectivity and Landis.

Richard Pryor-Jones, Azlan managing director, said: 'Marie Patrick (Ascend UK channel sales manager) has spoken a lot about bringing in a company to shift its products.'

However, he added: 'Ascend is still a complex product and having more distributors would make it less attractive to its other partners.'

The move to recruit Logitek follows Ascend's recent channel restructure, in which the vendor ended its agreement with Unity after securing a distribution agreement with Landis last month (PC Dealer, 24 June).

Patrick confirmed discussions with Logitek had been ongoing but said: 'Because we have only just taken on Landis and there is a budget freeze at the moment, we cannot move forward just yet.'

Roger Paul, managing director of Landis, said: 'The good thing is that Logitek is not really a specialist so it would no be a threat.'

Neil Ledger, managing director of Data Connectivity, said: 'I would be very surprised if this happened. Logitek is renowned as a fulfilment house, not for support.'

Herbert said he was unsure which products - including its high-end switches - Logitek would be selling, but said: 'Ascend does not split the products into categories, so if you are a distributor for Ascend you do all the products.'