Avnet TS welcomes in new UK boss as Rayat moves roles

US VP Tony Madden to run Avnet Technology Solutions' UK business as Sukh Rayat takes on components role

Avnet Technology Solutions (TS) has kicked off the year by appointing a new UK boss as previous big cheese Sukh Rayat moves back into a role in the distributor's components business.

Avnet TS has confirmed to CRN that the day-to-day running of its UK operations will now be handled by Tony Madden (pictured, above), a US-based senior vice president of Avnet who currently runs the distributor's global supplier business.

Rayat (pictured below), meanwhile, has been appointed as senior vice president of Avnet Global Computing Components (AGCC) EMEA, following an 18-month stint bossing the UK, reuniting him with a part of the business he has helped run previously. He took the UK reins from John Toal in October 2012, although since then saw his job title bumped up to that of senior vice president, north region.

CRN understands that Avnet TS staff were informed of several other UK management changes at the distributor on Monday. UK sales director Laura Bouchard (pictured, bottom) has been put in charge of all the customer-led sales teams Avnet formed recently as part of a structural overhaul. Meanwhile, Christian Curtis will now lead of all Avnet TS' more traditional business units and their vendor-led sales teams and services in the UK.

In a statement sent to CRN, Graeme Watt, president of Avnet TS EMEA, thanked Rayat for his commitment during his stint running the UK arm, adding that he brings a wealth of experience to the EMEA AGCC team.

"I would also like to welcome Tony Madden into our team," Watt added. "As an experienced senior executive, Tony aligns business goals with relationships locally, regionally and globally, making him a great asset to our EMEA operations."

In its most recent quarter ending 28 September, Avnet saw total sales rise 8.1 per cent. In the TS unit EMEA sales fell 10.5 per cent organically although the reported top line rose 9.3 per cent to $694.3m (£422.4m). Its Q2 earnings are due out on 23 January.

According to Avnet, Rayat's appointment "further aligns Avnet's organisational structure to the benefit of customers and suppliers across EMEA".