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Westcoast throws UC hat into ring

Distributor sets up dedicated unified communications team as it pursues ambitious growth targets

Westcoast has leapt into the unified communications (UC) market with a new team and ambitious growth plans for 2012.

The Theale-based distributor has poached former Azlan Avaya business development manager Scott Somenthal to head up the new UC division, with plans to recruit further staff, and has set itself a £5m growth target for the coming year.

It has also signed a distribution deal with voice-enabling vendor AudioCodes to complete its UC package. Somenthal said: “Westcoast is one of HP's largest UK&I distributors, a Microsoft Gold distributor and Microsoft Gold volume licensing partner.This enables Westcoast to offer a comprehensive Microsoft Lync solution incorporating HP networking, Audiocodes and Aastra Telecom. This can all be demonstrated in Westcoast’s newly built Solutions Lab in Milton Keynes, housing a fully live MS Lync environment.”

Phil Bell, head of marketing at Westcoast, explained the distributor will be looking to set up a five-person strong UC sales team as well as investing in a pre-sales head now it has Somenthal on board.

“We have a massive growth number and it is a good time to get involved in the market – UC helps companies save on travel time and a lot of companies are asking for this technology," Bell told CRN. "We are perfectly positioned at this time to make the most of the market.”

Paul Harman, commercial manager for the solutions business at Westcoast, added: “We are delighted that Scott has joined Westcoast to head up our new UC team, and he brings a wealth of UC sales experience. This, accompanied by our new install and services offering, will provide resellers with everything else they need to win and execute successful UC rollouts.”