Westcon-Comstor appoints heads for comms and security in EMEA restructure
New appointments made as distie splits business into collaboration and cybersecurity arms
Westcon-Comstor has launched two new business units to be led by newly appointed execs.
Its EMEA Communications unit and Security divisions will now have dedicated heads to lead the business.
The go-to-market restructure will mean both sides of the business will receive "specific expert attention" and "dedicated resource", claims Westcon.
Marianne Nickenig, who has led Westcon's Collaboration and Digital Transformation business for DACH and eastern Europe for the last six years, has been appointed head of the Collaboration and Networking unit in EMEA.
Daniel Hurel meanwhile leaves his post as VP of sales for Comstor Security Europe to head up Westcon's EMEA Cybersecurity and Next Generation Solutions division. Hurel initially joined Westcon in 2001 having previously led its business in southern Europe and North Africa.
The two senior appointments have forced Westcon to make changes to its regional structure in EMEA.
Former MD of Westcon Security in DACH, Robert Jung, will now take Nickenig's place and move into a wider role as head of DACH, responsible for its Collaboration, Networking and Cybersecurity business.
Arno Beker, Westcon's Benelux MD, will also take on an expanded remit to head up Benelux and the Nordics.
The $2.5bn-revenue distributor claims it has established a new sales team for its cybersecurity business and increased go-to-market engagement with emerging and niche security vendors.
Westcon also believes the restructure will result in better alignment with its core vendor community and channel partners.
"Our loyal vendor and channel relationships have excelled in recent years," said David Grant, COO of Westcon International.
"Now, by investing in expertise to support these areas, we believe we can drive channel business growth by helping partners navigate ongoing industry shifts and seize the opportunity to secure ‘net new' business," he said.
"In order to grow and scale, these solutions require a different engagement and support model. Establishing this cybersecurity-focused business unit will allow us to expand our solutions portfolio and offer greater choice and opportunity to our channel partners."
Westcon's owner, Datatec, closed the sale of its Americas business to US player Synnex for $800m in September 2017. As part of the deal, Synnex also acquired a 10 per cent stake in Westcon's EMEA and APAC business, which it could increase to 20 per cent later down the line. It was also granted first refusal if Westcon sought to sell the business.
When the sale was first announced in June 2017, Datatec CEO Jens Montana said he would have preferred to have sold the Westcon business in its entirety.
Following the Americas sale to Synnex, the Westcon International business sank to a $71.8m loss in Datatec's fiscal 2018 ending May last year. The distributor did however manage to recover in fiscal 2019, with losses shrinking to just $4.23m.
The move by Westcon follows a planned hardware sell off from one of its major competitors, ScanSource, in the European market.