Hammer appoints Eddy Bergiers as first European director

Continental chief joins from Arrow in order to keep up with the distributor's growth plans

VAD Hammer has appointed a European director in order to keep up with its growth and aid its quest to become the leading VAD in every region in which it operates.

Eddy Bergiers, who joined the firm at the start of the month, held a regional sales director role at Arrow until July this year, after a two-year stint at Avnet as its regional director in the France and Benelux region.

Bergiers will be based at Hammer's Belgium office and will manage the distributor's offices in cities in the Netherlands, Italy and Sweden.

Hammer, which has achieved annualised growth of 23.4 per cent in its international sales since 2009, claims that the Belgiers appointment is in line with its European expansion plans.

Managing director James Ward said: "Hammer is maintaining year-on-year UK growth, but we are also experiencing tremendous growth via our regional European offices. Expanding our business across the board is of great importance to Hammer, and our continuing objective is to be the strongest value-add distributor in every territory in which we have a presence.

"Eddy's appointment and central location will assist us in enhancing our understanding of local businesses and cultures, and will ensure the continuing strategic development of our regional businesses."

In October, the VAD signed UK distribution deals with vendors DataCore and CA Technologies.

Bergiers said: "I have seen first-hand the requirements that resellers in the European region have, and now I am working for a company that can truly deliver those needs. Hammer has had a fantastic track record of international growth, and I will enjoy building upon that record."