Keith Bradley: Ingram Micro Forms Services Division

Aug. 16, 2006

Ingram Micro announced the formation of a new services division designed exclusively to help U.S. and Canadian solution providers develop and grow their professional IT services businesses.

"IT industry growth projections for services over the next couple of years are double that of IT hardware, offering a groundswell of untapped revenue and profit for our solution provider and manufacturer partners," says Keith Bradley, president, Ingram Micro North America. "Building on the success of the Ingram Micro Services Network (IMSN) and our existing IT service offerings, this new services division will mark a key milestone in our region's growth strategy. The aim of this team will be to seek out and develop new professional IT service opportunities, and provide the training and dedicated resources to grow our partners' service businesses."

Set to launch on Oct. 1, the new Ingram Micro Services Division will be led by Justin Crotty, who will be named vice president, services, North America. The division will comprise of a dedicated sales team, as well as technical and services-focused associates who will be available by phone, and in the field to provide professional business development services and support to solution providers. Ingram Micro's service provider organization, the IMSN, will become a cornerstone of the Services Division and continue to grow its professional, labor-based onsite IT services across the IT channel.

The new services team will be responsible for introducing new professional services and reaching out into Ingram Micro's North America solution provider base to identify, educate and train new and existing partners. The strategic focus of the Services Division will help the team incorporate, grow and support current Ingram Micro services such as the Ingram Micro Help Desk, IT Staffing Solutions, IM Outlet, Ingram Micro OfficePac, Reseller Services Portal, and content and project management services.

New and existing offerings within Ingram Micro's Services Division will be organized into three key areas, each focused on driving services growth in the IT channel: professional IT labor services and programs; warranty contract management and renewal services built upon Ingram Micro's Reseller Services Portal; and managed services.

"Crotty and the IMSN team are well respected among the solution provider community, and have a proven track record for introducing relevant services offerings that drive real results for our partners," says Bradley. "Crotty has championed the vision of the new Services Division, and under his leadership the team will continue to grow Ingram Micro's footprint in the professional services arena."

Effective Oct. 1, Kirk Robinson, Ingram Micro's current vice president of solutions marketing, U.S., will be appointed as the new vice president of channel marketing and assume Crotty's role as head of Ingram Micro's North America channel marketing team. A 13-year Ingram Micro sales and marketing veteran, Robinson will lead the distributor's successful VentureTech Network (VTN), SMB Alliance, GovEd Alliance and System ArchiTECHs solution provider communities. The company will name Robinson's replacement at a later date.

"Robinson understands the importance of partnership and knows what it takes to maximize sales and marketing opportunities," says Bradley. "His leadership and enthusiasm will drive more success within all our customer communities, and strengthen the business value Ingram Micro brings to its solution provider and manufacturer partners."