Gamma Global 'ready to attack' following board expansion

Influx of new directors at Mancunian distributor

Distributor Gamma Global claims it is moving back into attack mode after bolstering its board with three new appointments.

While its heritage lies in sub-distribution, the Mancunian outfit has more recently moved into authorised distribution and now works directly with several datacentre infrastructure management (DCIM) vendors.

Gamma Global has doubled the size of its board with the appointment of three new directors. Simon Greenhalgh has joined in the post of finance director, while Andy Kelly and Mark Gilbert have been promoted to the roles of sales director and operations director respectively.

For its financial year to 31 December 2012, Gamma Global posted after-tax profit of £320,000 on sales that fell 17 per cent to £43.3m and the firm has also recently scaled back its international expansion plans.

Talking to CRN, Kelly said the new appointments indicate the distributor is moving on to the front foot.

"These appointments are about getting the business in shape and getting ourselves ready to attack the marketplace next year," said Kelly. "We will certainly look to increase our turnover next year."

Gamma's sub-distribution – or independent – activities focus on providing dealers with an equivalent level of services to authorised distributors but at a lower cost, Kelly said. Key vendors include IBM, Cisco and APC.

More recently, the distributor has inked authorised contracts with a string of DCIM vendors including Emerson Network Power (and its brands Avocent, Liebert and Knuerr), Server Technology, Rittal and Austin Hughes. This "value-add" side of its business competes with the likes of Arrow and Avnet, Kelly said.

"We intend to give this business its own identity later in the year," said Kelly.

Three years ago, Gamma Global was plotting an international expansion drive but Kelly said the tough economic climate had forced the firm to focus on its core European markets. As well as the UK, it still has feet on the street in Paris, Milan and Warsaw.