WALTHAM, Mass., Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The world's largest independent IT training company and the world's largest wholesale distributor of technology products and services joined forces today to market information technology training services and computer hardware as a complete solution.
Training giant Global Knowledge Network Inc., of Waltham, Mass., today became the exclusive U.S. classroom training partner for mega-distributor Ingram Micro Inc. The partnership, which may expand to other selected countries in time, is the latest in a series of steps by Global Knowledge Network to reinforce its position as the largest independent IT training company via strategic partnerships with prominent industry players like Microsoft Corp., Oracle and Digital Equipment Corp.
Global Knowledge Network will assume classrooms in Costa Mesa, Calif., and Chicago, and employ Ingram Micro's highly skilled instructors. Beyond that, the pact gives Global Knowledge Network the sales channels that have made Ingram Micro an $8.6 billion company and adds a valuable new dimension -- comprehensive training through Global Knowledge Network -- to Ingram Micro's customer-service offerings.
"A computer and software are only as valuable as an employee's ability to use them," said Duncan Anderson, Global Knowledge Network's vice president of marketing. "That's why this partnership makes so much sense. Our training will add value to Ingram Micro's products, and Ingram Micro's sales channels will give us an entire new market of qualified prospective customers. Our focus on distribution channels is one of the vital components of Global Knowledge Network's business strategy in the future."
The agreement, for undisclosed terms, provides Ingram Micro customers with Global Knowledge Network's state-of-the-practice custom learning services. This training will carry the Global Knowledge Network name, already well- established overseas.
"This partnership is a result of the ongoing expansion of Ingram Micro's Value Added Services and broadens our technical education offering to the reseller channel," said Greg Hawkins, Ingram Micro's senior vice president of sales. "Together with Global Knowledge Network we will implement a strategy to provide high-quality training that will enable the channel to better service end users."
Global Knowledge Network will begin by stationing registration personnel at key Ingram Micro sites to serve their more than 5,000 resellers. Global Knowledge Network will also create incentives for the Ingram Micro sales force to sell worldwide training programs.
Global Knowledge Network already trains more students in more locations than any other worldwide Authorized Training and Education Center (ATEC) for Microsoft Corp. One in five of its 225 full-time instructors hold doctorate degrees.
"The partnering of Global Knowledge Network's Microsoft Authorized Technical Education Center (ATEC) business with Ingram Micro's masterful distribution business will prove to be of great benefit to Microsoft customers. We are pleased that these two strong Microsoft Solution Providers are forming this collaborative relationship," said Nancy Lewis, general manager of worldwide education and certification at Microsoft.
About Ingram Micro
Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE:IM)
, headquartered in Santa Ana, Calif., is the world's largest wholesale distributor of technology products and services, with 1995 sales of $8.62 billion. The company operates in 19 countries and distributes more than 36,000 products to over 100,000 resellers in 120 countries.
About Global Knowledge Network
Global Knowledge Network's 800 employees train more than 100,000 people a year in 18 languages at more than 60 sites, and the company has international offices in 28 countries. Customers range from individuals to governments to multinational corporations. The company trains IT professionals across Canada through Mentys(TM) -- The Internet Computer Institute. In August, the company received a S$2.1 million grant from the Singapore government to implement Mentys in that country.
Global Knowledge Network offers a wide range of IT education services, including classroom programs, self-paced and on-line learning, and customized training. The privately held company was formed in 1995 following the acquisition of selected assets of Digital's Learning Services Business by the New York based investment firm of Welsh, Carson, Anderson and Stowe. Additional information on the company is available on the Internet at http://www.globalknowledgenetwork.com/.
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Source: Global Knowledge Network Inc.
CONTACT: Christine LeCompte of Beaupre & Co. Public Relations,
603-436-6690 or lecompte@beaupre.com, or William Agush of Global Knowledge
Network, 617-893-3026 or agushw@ma.ultranet.com