Avnet hands out divisional management roles

Distributor appoints mixture of Bell and Avnet execs to oversee areas including networking, software, storage, security and credit

John Toal: Our people and their knowledge are very important

Following its acquisition of Bell Micro, Avnet Technology Solutions is close to finalising the integration of UK sales and marketing operations after dishing out a number of high-profile middle management roles.

UK country manager John Toal told ChannelWeb he has now been given responsibility for overseeing the distributor's Irish operations. Former Bell executive Peadar Kane has been installed as Irish country manager.

Avnet's technology solutions director Wayne Gratton has been given responsibility for overseeing the distributor's Solutions Path programme.

"[Solutions Path] is about taking multi-vendor technologies and creating a solution," explained Toal.

The programme - which, globally, contributes $1.5bn (£930m) to Avnet's top line - will initially focus on particular technology areas. Vertical market-focused elements are to be imported from the US in about a year's time.

Bell alumni Ben Abraham, Ed Callacher and Scott Murphy have all moved to similar roles in the new set-up. Abraham will continue to look after services operations, Callacher oversees networking and security and Murphy maintains his focus on HP and Symantec. From the Avnet side, Marcus Ollenbuttel takes on a role overseeing wireless.

Bell and Avnet's respective Symantec and IBM teams have now been merged. The distributor has also opted to slot its HP Networking business into its networking wing, rather than its HP unit.

Another prominent Bell exec - EMEA commercial director Ed Bateman - has been handed a Europe-wide role at Avnet overseeing storage and software operations.

Following long-standing Bell credit chief Eddie Pacey's departure last month, Deborah Scott from Avnet assumes the UK credit manager position. Toal stressed that, in terms of reseller credit lines, "one plus one equals two ".

"We went out on day one and said we will honour both credit lines," he explained.

He added that a yearly survey from Avnet had recently shown customer loyalty to have increased five percentage points over the past 12 months.

"Logistical strength is still important to [resellers]," said Toal. "Our people and their knowledge is also very important."