Citrix and Computerlinks to part ways

Distributor will cease trading relationship with software vendor on 31 December

Computerlinks has confirmed it is ending its long-standing UK distribution agreement with Citrix on 31 December, leaving SDG and Arrow ECS as Citrix’s remaining distributors.

David Caughtry, director of core technology at Computerlinks, stressed the split was “amicable” and in line with the recent restructuring of the distributor’s business into core and new technologies divisions.

“We have had a fruitful and long-standing relationship with Citrix,” he told ChannelWeb. “But as part of the business restructure, we are looking at how we move forward and our business with Citrix was perhaps at a point where it was unsustainable.

“We are maintaining our focus on our core vendors, but are also putting more resource into new technologies and services.”

Channel sources suggested Citrix is looking to pool its efforts behind fewer distributors in each territory, but also speculated that margins had become too tight for Computerlinks to bear.

One said: “Channel margins are under pressure with Citrix and I can understand why Computerlinks wants to invest resource in higher-margin vendors.”

Ewen Anderson, managing director at Citrix partner Centralis, said: “Margins are being squeezed in the current climate and probably more so for Citrix than other vendors. Citrix’s Advisor Rewards programme is essential if you are to make anything out of licensing.”

Citrix could not be reached for comment as we went to press.