Avnet has confirmed it will be ramping up staff and channel resources after being awarded HP networking distribution status in Australia, Singapore and Indonesia.
As previously reported in ARN, HP is instituting global changes to its networking distribution line-up to better integrate its 3Com and ProCurve businesses. HP acquired 3Com for $US2.7 billion in November 2009. As part of its expanded strategy, existing HP Enterprise Servers and Storage (ESS) distributors in Australia are gaining access to its complete networking portfolio.
Alongside Avnet in Australia, the distribution list now includes Dicker Data, Ingram Micro and niche player, Lynx Technologies. In a statement, Avnet regional president, KP Tang, said the expansion of its strategic partnership with HP would enable it to grow its distribution methodology and provide more converged solutions to market.
“Our Australian team will work closely with the HP team to ensure we are accelerating the success of our channel partners when putting together start-of-the-art networking, server and storage solutions,” Avnet country manager, Gavin Lawless, added in the statement.
Avnet Asia-Pacific director of marketing, Michael Costigan, said the company was now looking to recruit a dedicated Australian HP Networking business development manager as well as a product manager.
“We’re also working with our colleagues in North America, where we are an existing HP networking distributor, to pull down programs,” he said.
As an example, Costigan said Avnet hoped to launch a new Networking Path training program under its Solutions Path banner.
Avnet also carries Juniper networking products locally, a relationship it secured as a result of its ChannelWorx acquisition several years ago. Costigan dismissed competitive concerns in its portfolio and said the HP networking arrangement was part of efforts to expand offerings for its resellers.
“We are going out aggressively and building an Asia-Pacific presence and substantial regional relationship with HP,” he said. To help this charge, Avnet acquired Indonesian HP distribution partner, Datamation, in April.
In the statement, HP vice-president and general manager of HP networking in Asia-Pacific and Japan, Paul Robson, said its combined networking portfolio, coupled with Avnet’s reach, would give customers standards-based and flexible technologies to deliver better business outcomes.
