Corporate, U.S. Appointments Drive Ingram Micro's Market Development and Customer Focus Strategies
SANTA ANA, Calif., March 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE:IM)
, the largest global wholesale provider of technology products and supply chain management services, has named Catherine W. Eckstein corporate vice president of worldwide marketing and Randall T. Gifford senior vice president of product management in the U.S. region.
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Eckstein brings more than 15 years of experience in marketing and brand management to Ingram Micro, where she will drive the company's global strategic marketing efforts in this newly created position, reporting to Chief Strategy and Information Officer Guy Abramo. Eckstein spent five years at Kellogg Company, where she oversaw new product strategy and brand marketing for the company's most profitable and rapidly growing convenience food brands, including Rice Krispies Treats(R), Pop-Tarts(R), Nutri-Grain(R) and Eggo(R), as vice president of marketing from 1994 to 1998. She also spent 10 years at The Clorox Company from 1984 to 1994, leaving the company as international marketing manager responsible for global brand expansion and integrity. Eckstein most recently was a visiting lecturer at the University of California, Irvine, and a marketing consultant.
"Ingram Micro is focused on building our value with customers and vendor partners," Abramo said. "Cathy has proven experience in increasing brand equity, and she has exceeded market share goals for a number of product brands. We see Cathy as a key player in helping our customers to develop market strategies, and she will drive initiatives in customer relationship management and corporate branding for the company."
Gifford joins Ingram Micro U.S. from GE Capital IT Solutions, where he served as vice president of U.S. operations since 1997 and specialized in sales operations, supply chain management and key projects relating to revenue generation and inventory management. Prior to joining GE Capital IT Solutions, he was director of support services for Compucom Systems from 1995 to 1997 and vice president of operations at CFC Computers from 1990 to 1995. Gifford takes over product management responsibilities from Ingram Micro U.S. Senior Vice President of Operations Terry Tysseland, who provided interim leadership over the past year.
"Randy's expertise in technology operations and inventory management will help Ingram Micro further drive costs out of the supply chain and tightly manage inventory," said Kevin Murai, president of Ingram Micro U.S. "These initiatives, along with providing our customers with the right mix of products and services, especially in emerging technologies, are important in helping our customers and vendors compete in this tight market."
Both Eckstein and Gifford have advanced degrees. Eckstein received an MBA with honors from the University of Chicago and is a certified public accountant. Gifford has an MBA in management and finance from Dallas Baptist University. In addition, he is a GE Six Sigma Quality Certified Greenbelt and a Novell-certified Netware engineer.
About Ingram Micro Inc.
Ingram Micro Inc. is the largest global wholesale provider of technology products and supply chain management services. The company operates in 36 countries with sales of $30.7 billion for the fiscal year 2000. Ingram Micro's global regions provide the distribution of technology products and services, marketing development and supply chain management services to more than 175,000 technology solution providers and 1,700 manufacturers. The company is focused on maximizing shareowner value and achieving customer satisfaction through innovation in the information technology supply chain. Visit http://www.ingrammicro.com/.
Ingram Micro and the registered Ingram Micro logo are trademarks used under license by Ingram Micro Inc. All other trademarks are properties of their respective companies.
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Source: Ingram Micro Inc.
Contact: Jennifer Marchetta of Ingram Micro Inc., 714-382-1403,
jennifer_marchetta@ingrammicro.com; or Lisa Falcetti of Benjamin Group/BSMG
Worldwide, 949-260-1300, ext. 234, lisa_falcetti@benjamingroup.com, for Ingram
Micro Inc.
Website: http://www.ingrammicro.com/