Perkins set to leave Computer 2000

Distribution giant's UK country manager has taken on a new role heading up Sage's small business division

Computer 2000’s (C2000) UK country manager Lee Perkins is heading off to pastures new and is leaving the distribution behemoth to head up the small business division of Sage.

Perkins headed back to C2000 in 2008 and joined the board of directors after a two-year stint in charge of Computacenter Distribution. Before that he worked as UK director of Azlan.

Speaking to ChannelWeb, Perkins revealed he would stay on at C2000 until around July, before making the move to Newcastle, home of Sage.

“I have accepted a job working for Sage as managing director of small business. It is a fantastic opportunity and I have completely fallen in love with Sage as a company,” he said.

“On a personal level I will be sad to leave C2000. I have had some great times here and the way the business has performed has been great, and I feel privileged to have been part of the board. But the opportunity with Sage came up and is a move I am excited to be making.”

David Watts, commercial director of C2000’s Datech division in the UK and Ireland, said the firm would not rush to hire a replacement.

“Lee has been here for a couple of years and has seen fantastic growth and diversification of the business,” Watts said. “He will be missed and we will be sorry to see him go. However, C2000 is a big business run by a big management team and there is a good pool of talent already there when it comes to finding a replacement. But Lee will be here for a couple of months yet.”

Perkins’ announcement comes just a few weeks after Azlan boss Ian French announced he would be stepping down and taking up a strategic adviser and consultant role with C2000, through his firm Siceo.

Andy Gass, managing director for UK and Ireland, said in a statement: “Lee has played a key role in the company’s growth over the years and we have valued his contribution.”