Global Technology Distributor Moves Toward 'Doing Marketing Differently' - Appoints New Marketing Executive Leads in North America and Aims to Replicate
Its Channel Development Success Globally
SANTA ANA, Calif., Oct. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In a move to further enhance its marketing capabilities, Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE: IM), a leading technology sales, marketing and logistics company, today announced enhancements to its strategic marketing services offerings for its manufacturer and solution provider partners in North America. Further, the company announced it is appointing new executive leads to its channel customer and solutions marketing teams and is taking initial steps to replicate its successful channel development activities throughout its international business regions.
The company's actions take aim at competitors by "doing marketing differently" and breaking free of the legacy marketing practices that the IT channel has come to expect from technology distributors. To lead these efforts, Ingram Micro has appointed three key executives to new positions within the company and promoted Brian Wiser to senior vice president, marketing, Ingram Micro U.S.
* As vice president of channel development, Bob Stegner will take on a
new business development role and help Ingram Micro continue to
develop its channel presence. In this role, Bob will continue to
report directly to Brian Wiser and work with other Ingram Micro
regions to share best practices on building and maintaining customer
communities and replicating the success the company has achieved in
North America.
* Justin Crotty has been named channel marketing vice president for
North America and will take over responsibility for leading the
company's channel business development in North America, including the
integration of Ingram Micro's U.S. and Canadian flagship customer
communities, as well as identifying and developing new growth
strategies and customer and manufacturer communities.
* Kirk Robinson has been appointed to customer and solutions marketing
vice president for Ingram Micro U.S. In this role, Kirk will leverage
his extensive sales expertise to set the strategies and drive the
development of new customer marketing offerings and program
development.
All three executives will continue to report to Brian Wiser and work in tandem with the company's product management, marketing and sales teams throughout the United States and Canada, as well as global, to develop more value for manufacturer partners and customers.
In addition, the company is closely aligning the efforts of its U.S. and Canada marketing teams and is working quickly to integrate the region's common customer communities, such VentureTech Network (VTN) and Ingram Micro Service Network (IMSN). The close ties will help drive more business through the communities by igniting new growth for customers' and manufacturers' businesses and increasing their brand awareness throughout North America.
"Our customer communities are second to none and we've never been more serious about turning up the volume to make both VTN and IMSN renowned in North America and exploring how we can build our channel presence around the globe," said Wiser. "By leveraging Bob Stegner's expertise globally and tapping the leadership of Justin Crotty and Kirk Robinson in the United States, as well as Murray Wright and Dave Walsh in Canada, we will bring our customers and manufacturer partners a whole new level of value and results."
Kicking into high gear its channel and customer marketing efforts, the global distributor will announce a number of marketing enhancements and new programs at its U.S. Marketing Symposium event in Costa Mesa, Calif., on Oct. 4 and 5 such as:
* Continuing to improve our consultative approach to highly customized
technology solutions and target marketing campaigns
* Supplementary resources dedicated to technology end-user demand
generation with added field marketing and sales resources and a new
online marketing tool, Agency Express
* Additional demo, training and certification opportunities at our
Solution Center in Santa Ana, Calif., and new location in Buffalo,
N.Y.
* Better returns on electronic marketing with new advertising and Web
content management services
* More regional and local customer events featuring free training and
technology demonstrations
* High value customer channel and partnering programs
* Additional small and new manufacturer launch campaigns for faster IT
channel and market adoption.
"Our role as demand-generators, marketers and infomediaries has become an important and unique aspect of our relationship with manufacturers and customers," continued Wiser. "We will continue to invest in building our expertise and expanding our marketing resources, campaigns and channel programs to help our partners deliver a competitive sales edge both nationally and internationally."
Partnership Opportunities
If you are an existing customer and you want to find out how Ingram Micro can help further your business, contact your Ingram Micro sales representative at (800) 456-8000 or visit www.ingrammicro.com. If you are interested in establishing a new relationship with Ingram Micro, contact our new accounts team at (800) 456-8000, ext. 41.
About The VentureTech Network
The VentureTech Network (VTN) is a leading partnership organization focused on providing solutions and service capabilities to SMBs in 800 North American markets. With 300-plus of the industry's top solution providers representing almost $2 billion in aggregate buying power, VTN offers exclusive certification, training and industry information from today's top manufacturers.
About the Ingram Micro Service Network
Unique to the industry, the Ingram Micro Service Network (IMSN) is a partner community that teams top solution provider partners across the United States and Canada to deliver break, fix and high-end service support and repairs to more than 800 North American markets. With more than 10,000 certified technical professionals, the network is available to all Ingram Micro solution providers 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week.
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 100 countries and is the only global IT distributor with operations in Asia. Visit www.ingrammicro.com.
(C) 2004 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- 10/05/2004
/CONTACT: Investors, Ria Marie Carlson, +1-714-382-4400,
ria.carlson@ingrammicro.com, or Media, Jennifer Baier, +1-714-382-2692,
jennifer.baier@ingrammicro.com, or Marie Meoli, +1-714-382-2190,
marie.meoli@ingrammicro.com, all of Ingram Micro Inc./
/Web site: http://www.ingrammicro.com /
(IM)
CO: Ingram Micro Inc.; VentureTech Network
ST: California
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