Avnet appoints global IoT boss

Former Arrow boss appointed to new role as Avnet steps up Internet of Things strategy

Demand among vendors and resellers for Avnet to develop more Internet of Things (IoT) solutions has driven the distributor to appoint a dedicated global boss in this area.

Industry veteran Eric Williams was today named as having won the newly created role of vice president of IoT, a market which IDC recently predicted would command spending of $1.3tn (£903bn) by 2019.

Williams' experience at Bell Industries and latterly Avnet's arch rival Arrow - where he spent two decades between 1994 and 2014 - makes him the "ideal candidate" to lead Avnet's IoT strategy, said chief executive Rick Hamada.

"Given our total breadth of resources, both our customers and suppliers are asking us to develop new solutions combining multiple elements of technology from the edge to the enterprise," Hamada said.

"In Eric, we have found an executive with global experience and a proven ability to design, develop and implement innovative programmes with positive results."

According to IDC, global IoT spending is set to reach $698.7bn in 2015 and will soar at a compound annual growth rate of 17 per cent over the next five years.

Asia-Pacific is currently the "clear leader" in the IoT spending stakes, with a market share of more than 40 per cent, the market watcher added.