Ex-Avnet boss John Toal rocks up at Onyx

Toal to push growth at the firm by leading its sales and marketing operations

Avnet's former country manager for UK and Ireland John Toal has taken on the role of group sales and marketing director at Onyx in a bid to ramp up the firm's growth.

Toal joins the Stockton-on-Tees-based firm in the newly created role after leaving Avnet last October. He led the distributor's UK operations for two years after joining following the Bell Micro buyout, and was succeeded by Sukh Rayat.

In his new role – which he began last Monday – Toal said he has been charged with growing the firm.

He told CRN: "We are fast-growing and VC-backed so I want to support that growth, and that is why [this] new position has been created. I am delighted to be here."

Toal added that he now leads a sales team of 18 and that his first impressions of the company are good after having met face to face with customers.

Onyx operates through the channel as well as directly with customers, and Toal said as the company grows, he is dedicated to growing its channel base and recruiting more partners.