Global TechBlog

Experienced IT Channel Executive to Head Ingram Micro Services Division and Cloud Computing Initiatives for North America
SANTA ANA, Calif., Sept 02, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ –

Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE: IM) today announced the appointment of 25-year IT services executive Renee Bergeron to vice president of managed services and cloud computing for its North America region.

In this role, Bergeron is responsible for driving the division’s growth strategy, which includes accelerating sales and business development efforts. She is also tasked with expanding and building upon the strengths and competitive differentiators found within the distributor’s Ingram Micro Services Network, Seismic services portfolio and Cloud Conduit Initiative and Advisory Council. Bergeron will report directly to Paul Bay, executive vice president, Ingram Micro North America.

“The Ingram Micro Services Division remains uncontested in the distribution landscape and continues to be one of the most valuable, revenue-building resources available to our channel partners in the U.S. and Canada,” says Bay. “Under Renee Bergeron’s leadership, we will build upon our success and expand our reach as the IT industry’s master aggregator of professional, managed and cloud computing IT services and support offerings.”

Bergeron joins Ingram Micro from Fujitsu America where she led a $300 million IT services solutions business and oversaw the development of innovative solutions within its managed services operations such as data center virtualization and cloud-computing. In her nine years at Fujitsu, Bergeron held a number of management roles including head of U.S. operations before running the manufacturer’s services operation.

“Renee Bergeron’s expertise and experience in services, general management and information technology will be a driving force behind identifying and cultivating new opportunities within the Ingram Micro Services Division and Cloud Conduit Initiative,” says Keith Bradley, senior executive vice president and president, Ingram Micro North America. “IT services remain one of the fastest growing market opportunities for distribution and the IT channel at large and is an area within the distribution industry that Ingram Micro will continue to invest in and lead.”

About Ingram Micro

As a vital link in the technology value chain, Ingram Micro creates sales and profitability opportunities for vendors and resellers through unique marketing programs, outsourced logistics services, technical support, financial services and product aggregation and distribution. The company serves approximately 150 countries and is the only global broad-based IT distributor with operations in Asia. Visit www.ingrammicro.com.

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SOURCE Ingram Micro Inc.

Is distribution leading both the technology industry and the general economy out of the recession doldrums?

The technology distribution sector is reporting substantial gains despite the sluggish economy. It’s a reflection of the strength of distribution and the value it brings to the channel. Here’s why: Nearly every leading technology analyst firm says IT spending peaked in 2008 just before the financial markets crashed. Even as Wall Street melted down, technology spending continued along at a relatively healthy pace through the end of the year. It wasn’t until 2009 that the entire market unraveled and IT spending plunged nearly 9 percent year over year.

While money is flowing back into technology budgets this year, analysts say IT spending will not return to pre-recession levels until 2012. The exception to this rule is distribution, which is reporting healthy – if not stellar – results. Where the rest of the economy is fretting a double-dip recession, the Global Technology Distribution Council says the level of sales through distribution in the second quarter exceeded 2008 levels.
“Businesses are clearly spending more on a broad range of IT products and solutions,” said GTDC CEO Tim Curran. “Second-quarter U.S. distribution industry sales increased steadily across many product categories that are now exceeding the peak levels achieved prior to when the downturn hit in September 2008. In Europe, June sales finished up 20 percent over the same period last year.”
It’s an amazing report considering that many of the technology vendors are being hammered by currency fluctuations, longer sales cycles and inconsistent demands. Websense CEO Gene Hodges was recently quoted worrying about a double-dip recession and European economic instability as part of the reason behind his company’s dampened performance. Cisco global channel chief Keith Goodwin recently told me that financial analysts are worried more about macroeconomic conditions than discrete technology segments and product potentials.
Distribution, Curran asserts, is the standout. GTDC tracks most of the major IT broadline and value-add distributors ranging from Ingram Micro and Tech Data to D&H Distributing. The total volume tracked by GTDC exceeds $100 billion annually. And Curran is gleeful when he reports that hardware sales through distribution in the second quarter grew 20 percent over the same period in 2009. While everyone is talking about cloud computing, Curran reports double-digit increases in wired networking, desktop computers and storage. His conclusion: The tech industry is rebounding and leading the rest of the economy.

That’s one explanation, but it doesn’t jive with the rest of the indicators. More likely at play are factors endemic to GTDC and, generally speaking, distribution. A significant portion of distribution’s growth is coming from “prosumer” electronics, or consumer-grade electronics deployed in business environments. This includes everything from flat-screen TVs to iPads. Many distributors expanded into consumer electronics to expand their business and mitigate the effects of the recession.

GTDC has added several new distributors to its ranks, including SMB powerhouse D&H Distributing. The organization says it normalizes its tracking data to account for membership growth. However, some skeptics say the expanded membership is likely influencing the numbers. But the most likely explanation for why GTDCs numbers are so good is the increased number of vendors pushing their products through a two-tier channel. In the past two years, GTDC reports seeing 200 to 250 vendors going to the channel and market through distribution. This is the real story.

As the economy spiraled, IT vendors – particularly small ones – raced to cut costs and shore up their revenue streams. Many turned to distribution for help. Distribution long ago shook off its core value proposition of “pick, pack and ship.” It still does that basic warehouse and logistics service, but over the last decade has added channel recruitment, training, field support, marketing and certification services. Many vendors have turned over their entire channel programs to distribution to manage. Earlier this year, WAN optimization specialist Riverbed basically outsourced its channel to Avnet’s Advanced Technology subsidiary. The results have been phenomenal, as the distributor has activated more parters, expanded market reach and increased sales volumes. It’s precisely the result Riverbed was seeking.
Curran proudly notes that distribution is the most cost-effective route to market through the channel. Vendors can defray channel management, support and enablement costs by assigning it to a distributor. Does distribution work for everyone? As they say in the automotive world, mileage may vary. Going through distribution doesn’t relieve a vendor entirely of their channel management and marketing responsibilities. In fact, it often means the vendor must expend more effort in relationship management, account cultivation and channel development. Based on the GTDC numbers, is distribution a leading indicator of a broader economic recovery? Not likely. What these numbers do reflect is the valuable role distribution is playing in containing channel costs and aiding vendors in reaching new partners and markets.

* * *

Lawrence M. Walsh is CEO and president of The 2112 Group, a technology business advisory service that specializes in optimizing indirect channels and partner relationships. He’s also the executive director of the Channel Vanguard Council, a thought leadership group and advisory committee to CompTIA on channel issues. He is the former publisher of Channel Insider and editor of VARBusiness Magazine. You can reach him at lmwalsh@the2112group.com.

via: http://channelnomics.com

13. Gregory M.E. Spierkel, $7.9 million

Total pay: $7.9 million

Company: Ingram Micro

IM stock outperformed S&P 500
(1 yr., through 12/09): 30% vs. 23.5%

Source: Equilar Inc.

via: http://money.cnn.com/

By Robert M. Cohen, president and business editor, Integrated mar.com

Robert: Keith, how do you define the Cloud?
Keith: It is about the ecosystem. There is still a range of offerings which may or may not be part of it. However, we are getting more narrow on the definition as we seem to be including: Infrastructure as a Service, SaaS, hosted services, Platform as a Service. Overall, it is about a switch in how end users use technology.

Robert: Do VARs understand the Cloud?

Keith: At the high level they understand it. Now, VARs need to be educated on what their major role is in the Cloud. They need to become advocates of the Cloud. We have to take the confusion out of the Cloud.

Robert: Do VARs fit into the Cloud?

Keith: VARs will never be disseminated. They help customers find the business solutions they need, as they relate to technology.

Robert: How is the Cloud going to change technology in the SMB space?

Keith: The less than 100 seat companies will be the early adopters because they are looking at IT as a service. The Cloud will provide them with the servers, computers, software, mobile devices, storage, security, etc., that they need. SMBs will be more comfortable with the public Cloud approach then having to host everything themselves. It will save them money, allow them to budget more accurately and they do not need IT people on staff.

The Next level, 101 — 1000 seats, will want a hybrid model where they will use public and private Clouds along with on site technology. This provides a great way for VARs to get into these companies as they will need integration services.

Robert: Is the Cloud here to stay?

Keith: Although the technology is similar to time sharing and data centers of the past, things change. Now the industry is more ready for to trust their data to outside bodies. The Cloud brings together the hardware, ISVs and applications. The Cloud is involved with applications that will be more sophisticated and better integrated. End users who are not comfortable with public Clouds will get a private Cloud which is just a virtualized, secured data centre solution. This happens because they don’t trust the public Clouds with their data.

Robert: Will Distribution be a key component in putting together Cloud solutions?

Keith: Over the next few years the changes to technology solutions, due to the Cloud, will be something that Distis cannot afford not to look at. The Cloud will be about 25% of technology solutions in SMB space.

Robert: What will be the role of Distribution?

Keith: Distis have to create a virtual marketplace so our VARs can find the Cloud service providers, just like we do now to help connect the VARs with the Vendors. We need some way of certifying the VARs on one side and ranking the service provides on the other side.

Robert: What is Ingram doing to secure its role in the Cloud?

Keith: We have already built an industry leading foundation with Seismic, our services brand. This gives Ingram Micro a huge head start in helping our partners get into cloud computing. We are the leading distributor in services. We have already helped over 1600 VARs move to managed services. We need to take Seismic to the next level so that we are ready when the market is ready. We have to help our Vendor and VAR partners move to the Cloud. We have to be the industry leader like we were 10 years ago with software licensing.

We have also created the Cloud Conduit Advisory Council to further accelerate industry adoption and build a greater understanding around Cloud computing. To establish a common ground for the IT industry’s cloud innovators to share their vision, seek new alliances and drive greater visibility into the opportunity, challenges and benefits that cloud computing brings to the IT channel at large. Together we will further enable our channel partners to clearly articulate and demonstrate the benefits of cloud computing to their customers.

Robert: Will Vendors by-pass Distributors?

Keith: No. Vendors will need to get to the SMBs via channel partners. To do this they will engage distribution, by getting on our line cards and then going through Ingram, and other distributors, to reach the channel. Like distribution always does, we will take some of the cost out of the process. Essentially, we will be providing the same basic services as we do now:

Providing a single source for most of the relationships that our VAR partners need.
Providing one invoice for Vendors rather than thousands of invoices.
Aggregating all types of services, including infrastructure, hardware and software and the service providers that our VAR partners need to run their businesses.
Providing tools, reach, etc.
Robert: Are you finding that some Vendors are leaving Distribution right now because they do not see the value you provide in the Cloud world?

Keith: Yes. We need to educate and enable the Vendors on how they need to look at the Cloud world without the services provided by the channel, which start with distribution. We have been spending a lot of time with our Vendor partners that are already in the Cloud, discussing how they can successfully to go to market with us. They also need to remember that VARs are the best placed people to service the SMB market. Reaching the VARs that own the relationships with the SMBs is a costly, but essential ingredient for successfully reaching and selling to SMBs. Distributors take costs out of the process for the Vendors due to our experience and relationships with VARs.

Robert: Where will Distributors get their new Vendor partners from?

Keith: ISVs will be the new customers for Distis. The Cloud provides a better way to reach the SMB market and thus will open up all sorts of new opportunities for SMBs to take advantage of tons of new apps.

Robert: What will be the role of channel partners in this new Cloud based world?

Keith: Their primary role will be enablers. They have to become Trusted Business Advisors to their customers, helping them find and use applications that will reduce costs and/or drive revenue for their SMB customers. Here in the US, the government stimulus programs are opening up a lot of vertical niches that need VARs to enable them: health care, local government and K  12 schools are perfect for Cloud solutions.

Robert: So overall, where will the channel fit into the Cloud?

Keith: Aggregating and enabling infrastructure, platform and software (apps) for SMBs.

Robert: What advice would you give to VARs regarding the Cloud?

Keith: Embrace the Cloud. It will be a great revenue model for you and a great add on for your customers. Get educated on the Cloud and educate your customers and prospects.

Robert Cohen, a passionate and enthusiastic channel advocate, is the founder of the ChannelLine Advisory Council as well as president and business editor of Integrated mar.com, publishers of Channel Advisor, eChannelLine and ConnectIT. Since 1980 he has worked with 350 IT vendors, distributors and resellers in developing and implementing strategic go-to-market programs, using a variety of direct, channel and hybrid models. Integrated mar.com, in conjunction with Robert has created the Trusted Business Advisor program.

Robert can be reached at 1-800-465-2059 or by email at rcohen@integratedmar.com.

via: http://www.echannelline.com

Ingram Beats Wall Street Expectations
It’s always good news for the industry when the world’s largest computer products distributor posts better than expected results.

Ingram this week beat Wall Street expectations for both earnings and sales for the second quarter ended July 3, posting a 24 percent revenue increase and a whopping 167 percent increase in profits.

Ingram reported $8.16 billion in sales, compared to $6.58 billion in the year-ago quarter. The Santa Ana, Calif.-based distributor also reported $67.7 million in profit, or 41 cents per diluted share compared with $25.3 million or 15 cents per share in the year ago quarter. The Wall Street consensus was earnings of 37 cents per share on $7.90 billion in sales.

Ingram CEO Greg Spierkel said that every region performed well for the company including North America where sales were up 30 percent to $3.56 billion

via: www.cm.com

Company awards seven Ingram Micro partners in North America for outstanding achievement

SANTA ANA, Calif. July 21, 2010 – Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE: IM) today announced its 2009 Data Capture/POS Division Partner of the Year Award winners, recognizing seven IT channel partners throughout North America for their outstanding achievements in the areas of sales, commitment to customer service excellence, and expertise in Data Capture/POS solutions. Justin Scopaz, vice president, general manager of the Ingram Micro Data Capture/POS Division, presented the awards at the sixth annual Partner Invitational at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers.

The 2009 Data Capture/POS Division Partner of the Year award winners included:

Canadian Partner of the Year – OCR Canada Ltd.
Central Region Partner of the Year – Cardinal Tracking, Inc.
Mid-Atlantic Region Partner of the Year – Barcoding Inc.
Midwest Region Partner of the Year – Emkat, Inc.
Northeast Region Partner of the Year – Something Digital
Southeast Region Partner of the Year – BarCode ID Systems
Western Region Partner of the Year – DecisionPoint Systems, Inc.
According to Scopaz, these partners demonstrated exceptional business-building capabilities in vertical markets such as education, healthcare, hospitality, government and retail where demand for data capture and POS solutions is growing at an impressive rate. “The remarkable achievements exhibited by these seven Ingram Micro partners in a challenging economic climate are impressive and demonstrate the growing sales and service revenue opportunities that exist for our solution providers,” says Scopaz. “We want to thank each of these award winners for their continued partnership and congratulate them on their success.”

For more information about the Ingram Micro Data Capture/POS Division, visit dcpos.ingrammicro.com.

About the Ingram Micro Data Capture/POS Division

The Ingram Micro Data Capture/POS Division is a leading value-added distributor of auto ID/data capture (AIDC), point-of-sale (POS), radio frequency identification (RFID) and wireless solution products and services. In addition to these technologies, the division also offers partners access to the complete suite of Ingram Micro products and services. With offices and distribution centers across North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia, the Ingram Micro Data Capture/POS Division delivers a comprehensive portfolio of products and services to technology integrators around the world. For more information, visit dcpos.ingrammicro.com.

Press Contact:
Marie Rourke
WhiteFox Marketing (for Ingram Micro)
(714) 292-2199
marie@whitefoxpr.com

Via: http://phx.corporate-ir.net

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Jodi Honore, Anne Wilcox and Holly Garcia Awarded for Channel Leadership and Ongoing Contributions to the IT Industry

Download image SANTA ANA, Calif., July 26 /PRNewswire/ — Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE: IM) today announced that Everything Channel’s CRN Magazine has recognized three of its U.S. executives in this year’s annual Top Women of the Channel listing which honors key customer-facing female business leaders across vendors’ channel organizations, distributors and solution providers.

Ingram Micro’s Jodi Honore, Vice President, Software, Vendor Management, U.S., Anne Wilcox, Vice President Customer and Solutions Marketing, U.S. and Holly Garcia, Senior Director, Vendor Management, U.S. were each selected for their professional contributions and accomplishments over the past year and the far-reaching impact their influence is having on the technology industry.

In addition, Jodi Honore and Anne Wilcox were named as two of the elite CRN Power 100 list, which recognizes those female channel executives who have reached the highest levels of the corporate ladder based on their professional achievements and influence wielded over the technology industry. Recipients of this year’s Women of the Channel and Power 100 lists were chosen by the editors of CRN Magazine and will be featured within the July 26th issue of the channel publication.

This is the second consecutive year that Honore, a 29-year IT channel veteran, has been named as one of the Top Women of the Channel. She is once again recognized for maintaining Ingram Micro’s strong leadership position in the IT software category. In the past year, Honore has maintained, managed and grown the distributor’s exclusive agreements with a number of leading IT vendors including Google, Citrix, CA and Websense. She has also furthered channel partners’ success with both emerging and high profile software vendors, and continues to play an important role as a channel advocate for the move to Software as a Service (SaaS) and cloud computing.

With 12 years of IT channel experience, Wilcox is recognized for her leadership and ability to create and execute key customer and solutions marketing initiatives and vertical campaigns aimed at enabling channel partners to extend their technology knowledge and skill set to sell a wider, yet more targeted portfolio of products, solutions and services. In the last 12 months, Wilcox has increased Ingram Micro’s partner enablement resources with the addition of new training and education programs, as well as enhancements to the distributor’s bi-coastal Solution Centers. Under her leadership, Wilcox’s team has also hosted two highly successful Partner Connections Summits and introduced the company’s new IMHealth Campaign.

Garcia’s 14 years in the IT channel have enabled her to maintain Ingram Micro’s top market share position with Cisco in both product and services categories. She spearheads the Ingram Micro U.S. Cisco Division which is focused on initiatives tied to Cisco’s four architectures: data center, collaboration, borderless networks and small business. Garcia’s leadership and team efforts contributed significantly to Ingram Micro being named Cisco’s worldwide Distribution Partner of the Year and receiving the worldwide Services Innovation Award at Cisco’s Partner Summit 2010.

“Women hold many prominent executive positions at vendor organizations, distributors and solution provider organizations, providing critical insight and influence when it comes to technology and the channel. We want to honor and congratulate these women for their contributions to the industry and their respective organizations,” says Kelley Damore, VP, Editorial Director, Everything Channel.

“Through the impressive leadership of all three of these female executives, Ingram Micro has strengthened its commitment to the IT industry and its value to our vast network of U.S. channel partners,” says Keith Bradley, Senior Executive Vice President and President, Ingram Micro North America. “We’re very proud to see their dedication to excellence honored by Everything Channel.”

A special feature of the Women of the Channel is in the July issue of CRN Magazine and expanded coverage will be featured online at www.crn.com.

About Ingram Micro Inc.

As a vital link in the technology value chain, Ingram Micro creates sales and profitability opportunities for vendors and resellers through unique marketing programs, outsourced logistics services, technical support, financial services, and product aggregation and distribution. The company serves more than 150 countries and is the only global broad-based IT distributor with operations in Asia. Visit http://www.ingrammicro.com/.

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Exclusive Interview With Ingram Micro CEO Greg Spierkel.

During value-added distributor (VAD) Ingram Micro’s recent DC/POS Partner Invitational, Business Solutions magazine’s Chief Editor Mike Monocello was able to meet with Ingram CEO Greg Spierkel. In the below video, you’ll find highlights from the exclusive interview. Topics covered include hot technology that AIDC and POS VARs could be selling to increase revenue, an update on the VAD’s analytics and business intelligence initiative, and Spierkel’s insight on those traits a good leader exhibits.

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Manufacturer:	Motion Systems Corporation
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Brand Name:	Motion Systems
Product Model:	P10SLV85-AST
Product Name:	P10SLV85-AST Netbook Case
Product Type:	Netbook Case

Style:	Sleeve
Maximum Screen Size Support:	10.2″

Standard Warranty:

Lifetime