Technology Reseller - v24

01732 759725 NEWS : DISTRIBUTORS 10 Value-added ICT distributor Westcon- Comstor has created two ‘Go to Market’ business units to accelerate growth in its Collaboration and Cyber Security distribution businesses in EMEA. David Grant, Chief Operating Officer at Westcon International, said: “Our loyal vendor and channel relationships have excelled in recent years. Now, by investing in expertise to support these areas, we believe we can drive channel business growth by helping partners navigate ongoing industry shifts and seize the opportunity to secure ‘net new’ business. “The Collaboration market is at an inflection point and we think it’s essential to establish a dedicated business unit with Go to Market specialisation for existing vendors and partners. This will be complemented by additional resources, digital capability and focus on emerging vendors and business models [e.g. subscription-based solutions delivered as a service].” Grant added: “We are also strengthening our Cyber Security business unit through additional resources, establishing new sales teams and increasing Go to Market engagement with a number of emerging and niche security vendors. Establishing this Cyber Security focused business unit will allow us to expand our solutions portfolio and offer greater choice and opportunity to our channel partners.” The Collaboration & Networking unit will be headed up by Marianne Nickenig, previously head of Westcon’s Collaboration and Digital Transformation business across DACH and Eastern Europe; the Cyber Security & Next Generation Solutions Go to Market unit will be led by Daniel Hurel, who has held several leadership roles in Westcon-Comstor’s Security practice. WestconComstor.com Westcon-Comstor launches Go to Market units for collaboration and cyber-security Nimans rebrands network services division Highlighting the increasing opportunities for growth in network communications, Nimans Network Services has been renamed Beyond Connectivity. ‘Beyond’, as the company will be known, lives up to its name with a product offering that encompasses cloud communications (hosted pbx), mobile, networking (inc. broadband) and services from big name brands, such as BT, EE, Vodafone, O2 and TalkTalk. Head of Sales Graham Wilkinson said: “We are thinking beyond today by offering next generation services based on our Simplified network services proposition. It’s an exciting new era and a bold vision for the future.” He added: “We’ve outgrown our previous brand and can achieve more with a new identity. Beyond Connectivity puts us at the forefront of Digital Britain in an era of hyper-connectivity.” Nimans establishes new security and AV division Nimans has launched a new security and AV division headed up by Director of Sales Camilla Kirkham, previously Divisional Director of Sales at specialist distributor Norbain. She is supported by Key Account Managers Jemma Adams and Alex Skiba and Internal Sales Specialists David Wilkin and Gavin Elly. The new division has been set up to help resellers exploit opportunities in IP CCTV, security and related areas such as retail analytics. Kirkham said: “For the majority of resellers IP CCTV and security should be a natural extension of their business and I’m looking forward to helping them take advantage of the huge market opportunities. We will be working with big name brands, as well as different technologies to inspire, excite and educate the reseller community.” She added: “The CCTV and AV markets are huge and most of our customers are already familiar with IP end points so moving into this area is a relatively pain- free process.” Lyreco to measure footprint of own-brand products Lyreco is aiming to become the first distributor to calculate the environmental footprint of its own- brand products using the EU Product Environmental Footprint (EU PEF) methodology. Approved by the European Commission in April 2018, EU PEF takes into account every stage of a product’s life cycle, from the manufacture of raw materials to the end of product life. Lyreco has already used it to calculate the environmental footprint of its detergents and in the medium- term will be applying it to 40 families of own-brand products, including cartridges, writing and printing materials, paper and notebooks. http://group.lyreco.com/gbr Exertis announces dedicated AV event Following the success of its Plug In To Exertis event, Exertis is to hold a dedicated AV exhibition and conference at the Vox Exhibition Centre, NEC Birmingham on November 5. Plug In To Exertis Pro AV will showcase the very best AV products and solutions from Samsung, LG, Lenovo, NEC, Philips, Chief, CTOUCH, Peerless, Poly and others. Alongside the main exhibition, there will be separate suites dedicated to LED technology and to Microsoft Teams and Zoom collaboration products and compatible equipment; a seminar programme; and a keynote speech by Daniel Lee, Managing Director of independent global IT and AV consultancy Hewshott International. https://www.plugintoexertis-proav.co.uk No more plastic cups Specialist AV distributor Midwich has banned the use of non- recyclable cups at its head office in Diss, Norfolk after spending £1,500 on 300 china cups for its 250+ head office employees. The investment will prevent 30,000 plastic cups from going into landfill each year. www.midwich.com/csr