Dimension Data unveils new UK boss

'We must demonstrate service value in way we have not done before in UK', says new UK big cheese Barney Taylor

Dimension Data has hinted at its desire to become more services-focused as it unveiled its new UK and Ireland managing director.

Barney Taylor (pictured), who has worked as part of Dimension Data's London-based Global Services leadership team since joining the integrator in 2012, has been appointed to the UK and Ireland hotseat following the resignation of predecessor Calvin Goom in March.

Taylor's understanding of services was cited by Dimension Data's European CEO Andrew Coulsen as a key rationale behind the appointment.

"It is very important that this business now takes our clients into new operating models and brings our full services portfolio and the global strength of Dimension Data into this market," said Taylor. "We must strengthen and grow our existing relationships and demonstrate services-led business value to our clients and partners in a way that we have not done before in the UK and Ireland."

Dimension Data was acquired for £2.1bn by Japanese telco giant NTT in 2010 and in 2013 CEO Brett Dawson laid out ambitious plans to double turnover to $12bn (£8.3bn) by 2018.

Last November, however, NTT CEO Hiroo Unoura said in an earnings call that he had held "frank discussions" about how to improve the Cisco Gold partner's profitability.

In its latest statement, Dimension Data described itself as a $7.5bn outfit.

Taylor, who will take up his new role this month, has in the past held management roles at IT services firms Steria and Anite. Dimension Data said he will be responsible for bolstering its position in the datacentre, IT-as-a-service and enterprise services markets.