Pacey's new venture to support M&A players

Industry credit guru lifts lid on new credit consultancy firm six months after Bell departure

Former Bell Micro credit boss Eddie Pacey has launched a consultancy service to provide channel firms with advice on a range of financial issues.

Pacey's new venture, EP Credit Management and Consultancy, was officially launched this week. This follows his departure from Bell in October, three months after the distributor's acquisition by rival Avnet was finalised.

Speaking to ChannelWeb, Pacey said he plans to draw on his 18-year tenure at the distributor to offer channel firms advice on credit and receivables management, fraud prevention and business development.

"I think there is still an awful lot to do in credit management where the channel is concerned and, during my 18 years with Bell, I got a great insight into the different attitudes and approaches resellers and vendors have towards this," he said.

"I think it is safe to say I was not ready to hang up my boots when I left Bell, and now I'm deciding for myself where to walk in them," he added.

His consultancy will also offer support to channel firms thinking of hitting the acquisition trail or looking to be acquired themselves.

"If you look back on the last decade, the channel firms that have acquired are the ones that have achieved growth, and consolidation will only continue as time goes on," he said.

The firm is already fielding enquiries from a few interested parties on the M&A side, and the overall response from the channel to his new venture has been welcoming, said Pacey.

"There are very few resellers out there that I have not spoken to or been personally involved with over the years and the feedback from them has been very encouraging," he added.