World's Largest Technology Distributor Poised to Make a Big Impact in Latin
America's Third Largest Economy and IT Market
MIAMI, July 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE: IM), the world's largest technology distributor, today announced that it had officially re-entered the booming Argentinean IT market with the opening of an office in Buenos Aires. The company has already put together its core management team and expects to assemble a full team of about 35 employees by the end of the year.
"Following a thorough analysis of the Latin American market, and at a time when the IT market is thriving, we feel the time is right for Ingram Micro to be in Argentina," said Alain Maquet, president, Ingram Micro Latin America. "We will be the only global distributor in country and believe this unique position will allow us to bring best-in-class service to all customers and vendors doing business in Argentina."
Industry consulting group IDC projects Argentina's IT market to grow 9.4 percent during the 2005 - 2010 period, similar to Mexico (9 percent) and Chile (10 percent). Additionally, the Gross Domestic Product growth in Argentina last year was 8.6 percent, far ahead of other countries in the region such as Mexico, Brazil and Chile.
This action actually marks Ingram Micro's return to Argentina following a five-year absence. The company originally began business there in 1999 and left the market during its third year of operations in 2002.
"Having been in Argentina in the past really presents a number of advantages for us," Maquet explained. "We have a unique opportunity to re- enter the country with lower costs and risks than usual for a business start- up due to our existing infrastructure and extensive in-house experience and expertise in the market. Plus, we've learned from our earlier experience there."
Ingram Micro Argentina's core management team will include Henry Green as managing director, Carlos Porta as director of operations and purchasing, Marcelo Lo Prete as CFO, and Marcelo Figola as controller. Pablo Suarez, managing director of Miami Export Division, will oversee all operations in Argentina.
Ingram Micro presently owns a building and warehouse in Buenos Aires and will base its operations there. The company plans to focus on components, networking, systems, software and peripherals at the time business gets underway.
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 150 countries and is the only broadline global IT distributor with operations in Asia. Visit www.ingrammicro.com.
(C)2007 Ingram Micro Inc. All rights reserved. Ingram Micro and the registered Ingram Micro logo are trademarks used under license by Ingram Micro Inc. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE Ingram Micro Inc.
-0- 07/23/2007
/CONTACT: Media, Jim Trainor, +1-714-382-2378,
jim.trainor@ingrammicro.com, or Rekha Parthasarathy, +1-714-382-1319,
rekha@ingrammicro.com, or Investors, Ria Marie Carlson, +1-714-382-4400,
ria.carlson@ingrammicro.com, all of Ingram Micro Inc./
/Web site: http://www.ingrammicro.com/
(IM)
CO: Ingram Micro Inc.
ST: Florida, Argentina
IN: CPR
SU: HSP
CM
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8107 07/23/2007 16:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com