Insight enlists Microsoft man to run EMEA

Wolfgang Ebermann to take reins in January following departure of Stuart Fenton

Insight Enterprises has poached a Microsoft big cheese to run its off-colour EMEA business.

Wolfgang Ebermann will take up the EMEA president post on 6 January following a 22-year stint at Microsoft, Insight's largest vendor partner. Most recently, he was vice president of Central Eastern Europe for the software giant.

Ebermann's appointment comes two months after previous EMEA bigwig Stuart Fenton called time on his 11-year stint at the VAR to devote more time to several personal investment opportunities.

In his previous role at Microsoft, Ebermann headed up sales, marketing and services for a 2,000-employee business covering 20 countries, Insight pointed out. Prior to Microsoft, he held several roles at HP.

Insight's EMEA sales fell eight per cent year on year to $421m (£262m) in its last reported quarter, ending 30 June, with hardware sales tumbling 21 per cent. Its local results were affected not only by a "weak demand environment" but also by underperformance in the UK, Insight said in a Q2 conference call, a transcript of which can be found here.

Insight chief executive Ken Lamneck said Ebermann has a history of "driving operational excellence and delivering growth" in the mid-market and enterprise within a pan-European business.

"Wolfgang's leadership style and experience will undoubtedly help define and grow our EMEA business' competitive position in 2014 and beyond," Lamneck said.

Ebermann's ability to navigate Microsoft, whose recent fees shake-up Insight admitted will dent its profits, may also have counted in his favour.