Ingram Micro gears up for UK cloud success

Distributor set to take UK partners to its Cloud Summit event in Florida for first time as it prepares to ramp up its cloud business in the region

UK resellers are being taken to Ingram Micro's flagship Cloud Summit event in the US next month for the first time as the distributor admits its cloud strategy has been its "best-kept secret".

Apay Obang-Oyway (pictured), general manager of enterprise software, unified communications and services at Ingram Micro UK, said the event was in its fourth year, and the timing was right to bring UK and European partners into the mix and push for growth in the region.

"[The Cloud Summit] really is going to be a global event this year," he said. "We have about 50 vendors attending, some of the leading names such as Microsoft and Cisco, Symantec and McAfee. We are making sure that we have a UK and European element to the event, with dedicated breakout sessions."

He said the distributor had enjoyed significant cloud success in the US, but had kept it fairly quiet in the UK and Europe. It now plans to take up to 60 European partners to the event in April at the Westin Diplomat Hotel in Florida.

"I believe that we have a very strong and well-recognised cloud strategy that is executed really well. We have a very strong portfolio and a dedicated cloud team and it probably is one of the best-kept secrets in the industry," Obang-Oyway added. "There is a lot of activity going on behind the scenes, but we clearly have to raise the profile of that."

He explained that the fact Ingram had split worldwide into four divisions, with cloud having its own dedicated division, shows the distributor's commitment to the space.

"Cloud now has its own separate structure and worldwide leadership [within Ingram Micro]," he said. "It is really about how we can help our reseller partners transition to this new opportunity. We can now show tangible benefits with the cloud as well, whereas in the past everybody just talked about it."

He said the distributor is planning to be a lot more vocal about its successes and strengths, particularly with the cloud.

"We have been quite a faceless organisation in the past, but this is a new Ingram now. We are very bullish and focused. And we have to make sure we execute well and engage with everybody. The future is very bright for us."