Logicalis UK boss Kelly to exit in new year

Long-standing chief expresses his pride in the business he leaves behind as rivals salute his achievements

Long-standing Logicalis UK managing director Tom Kelly is to depart his role in the new year.

Kelly (pictured) has been in charge of the integrator's UK business since 2004. He will stay on until the close of the company's fiscal year in February and will oversee the succession process.

During his time at the helm the VAR has grown from a £40m operation into one boasting yearly sales of almost £200m. Logicalis has also invested heavily in its services and cloud credentials, including the opening of a £7.5m, 10,000 sq ft datacentre facility two years ago.

Kelly told ChannelWeb that he was happy to leave the firm primed for further growth.

"I am fantastically proud of the people that we have here and I genuinely believe that the business is firmly set for fantastic success in the future," he said. "That is the way I would like to be remembered: as someone who came in, built the business up, is leaving it in good shape and is seen by partners and clients as a safe pair of hands."

Terry Burt, chief executive of rival 2e2, expressed his sadness that Kelly is moving on.

"Tom is a fierce competitor and a man who understands the industry very well," he said. "When people like that are lost to this industry it is always a great shame. I have a lot of time for Tom and have nothing but respect for him.

"But he feels now is the right time to move on and one has to respect that. I am sure he will be replaced by someone who knows the industry equally well."

Peter Deacon, strategy consultant at Techgate, said Logicalis - which was known as Logical Networks before it was bought by Datatec in 1997 - had prospered under Kelly's tutelage.

"I've had dealings with Tom over many years. Logical Networks was on its knees before Datatec bought it and when I was [MD] at Telindus I looked at buying it myself. But it had a lot of of cash injected in it at the time of the acquisition and has done very well.

"Tom has got to take a a lot of the credit for that success. I admire him greatly and wish him well."