Ingram in and Avnet out in ShoreTel distie rejig

Avnet one of 11 partners across Europe leaving the fold as vendor extends deals with ScanSource and Ingram

Comms vendor ShoreTel has inked a UK distribution deal with Ingram Micro, with incumbent partner Avnet leaving the fold.

ShoreTel and Ingram already work together in the US, and the partnership has been extended to the UK and the Benelux and DACH regions. ScanSource Communications, with which ShoreTel already works in the UK and US, has also been added across the Benelux and DACH territories.

Of the vendor's other incumbent UK disties, Cohort Technology will remain in place, while Avnet's contract is being terminated. A further 10 of its 21 distribution partners across the EMEA region are also being shown the door.

ShoreTel EMEA distribution director Darren Pattie said: "These decisions are strategically significant. ShoreTel is growing quarter on quarter, and the majority of business is being in the SMB and big business market. We wanted to make sure that we have a distribution landscape to continue that growth."

"Cohort will continue what they are doing today. They play a key role as a specialist distributor, providing a range of services and support to our smaller partners."

Pattie outlined that ShoreTel is determined to make the migration process for any VARs that predominantly worked with Avnet "very professional". UK resellers will be able to choose with which distributor they wish to work in the future.

Pete Hannah business unit director for unified communications at Avnet Technology Solutions UK, stressed that Avnet remains committed to the comms market, and that Avaya is its most strategically important vendor in this space.

"We understand the changes being made by ShoreTel and these in no way impact Avnet Technology Solutions UK's commitment to the unified communications market," he said.

"We're seeing an increasing demand for platforms that deliver integrated applications to fixed and mobile devices. As a market leader in this area, Avaya is Avnet's strategic vendor with whom we will be working to create opportunities for our partners in this space."