NEWS
INGRAM MICRO REPORTS
“surprisingly
soft” Europe
Figures from Ingram Micro recently pointed
up sluggish demand across the region, with
only Switzerland growing in local currencies.
But the pattern was mixed: Germany and
Netherlands and Switzerland generated growth
in the corporate segment while the UK and
Switzerland experienced SMB growth. CEO
Greg Spierkel called Europe “surprisingly soft”
in meetings with analysts. This was confirmed
to us by EMEA President Jay Forbes (right): “We
saw it starting last year in retail, but it was hard
to see if it was temporary.”
LOCAL events may have affected survival of the fittest: In the Nordic OUR VIEW:
consumer confidence in France, Italy regions, where rival Tech Data has Restructuring could substantially
and Germany, he says, but the trend just acquired Scribona, he hopes “it reduce the size of the regional
continued in an more protracted way has success in integrating it”, and headquarters in Belgium without
into February and March, particularly in will bring further rationalisation disrupting customer service and
retail, and affecting corporate and SME and a “better level of competition”. financial controls, it claims. We
sectors as well. Ingram Micro tried to find Failures will continue, he warns, and hope so, but details may take time
a common thread, but “it varied from hopes that Tech Data/Scribona will to emerge. And Ingram Micro is
country to country”. “adopt a reasonable go-to-market in a strong position to be the “last
“The economic headwind has come as plan”, but it is “hard to say how long man standing” as consolidation and
a surprise with its breadth and impact.” the process will last.” Ingram Micro failure take their toll. Jay Forbes also
He is taking an aggressive stance: in the Nordics has been turned identified strong management as
the Belgian-based EMEA regional round to the point of profitability: the reason why it had been able to
headquarters is to be “substantially re- “eW ’re well represented there.” turn round the Nordics in the face of
organised”, and product lines reviewed. Discussion of new product areas margin pressure. He needs to be able
Meetings with staff representatives have brings up the relationship with to repeat this elsewhere, as Ingram
been organised. Google where he has just taken on Micro has already done in Italy. And
“I see a desire here to constantly search appliances. “A very interesting we are very interested in how the
review and revamp the way we do organisation, moving in many different relationship with Google pans out.
business, to be more selective. I’m directions and with a lot of lines in
always looking for new ways to expand the water, and a strong track record of
margin, looking at the business systems.” innovation.” The opportunity to ally
The downturn may accelerate the with Google “holds great promise for
consolidation among distributors and the future.”
resellers. And it may come down to
www.ingrammicro.com
04 8020 EUROPA JUNE 2008
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