PCR Tech and IT retail, distribution and vendor news
International distributor Tech Data has announced a triumvirate of appointments in key roles within its Consumer Technology Group (CTG). Ross Turner will lead customer engagement and relationships while Catherine Craig steps up to the role of business manager and Teresa Johnston will take on added responsibility for consumer hardware sales development.
CTG was formed in February to provide a clear focus on opportunities around consumer technologies, such as consumer PCs and components, home networking and smart home products, PC gaming, VR and wearable devices, that present rapid growth potential for retailers and webstores.
Ross Turner has been named general manager of CTG External Sales with responsibility for managing customer engagement and relationships. He will manage a team of four experienced account managers and play an active role in the ongoing evolution and development of Tech Data’s CTG strategy. Turner has been with Tech Data for over five years in a variety of FBU roles, most recently as Head of Consumer Business Development.
Catherine Craig has been named as business ,anager for Consumer Hardware, which incorporates consumer PCs and components, home networking and smart home and PC gaming. She takes full commercial ownership of consumer hardware vendor partnerships and the category team, and will also play an important role in customer engagement. Craig was previously category manager for PC Components and Smart Home products.
The third announcement sees the role of Teresa Johnston, business development manager for Smart Home, expanded to cover consumer hardware with the aim of maximising customer engagement for key opportunities. Tech Data is also currently recruiting a dedicated business development manager for Gaming with an announcement expected within the few weeks.
Mark Glasspool, director of product marketing and sales of the Consumer Technology Group, said: “We are really excited about the opportunities we have in the Tech Data CTG and it’s vitally important for us to get the right people and partnerships in place, so that we can help our customers take their opportunities. In Ross, Catherine and Teresa, we have three highly experienced and capable individuals, and all of them will play important roles as we continue to grow and move towards our objective of being the first-choice distributor of consumer technologies in the UK.
The company says that CTG provides a clear focus on consumer electronics areas in which there is now significant cross-over and ensures that all sales and marketing efforts are fully aligned. Matt Child, who heads up the group, stated: “We are now seeing an unprecedented wave of new development in which the lines between product categories are becoming blurred. Our vendors now have devices and product ranges that bridge different areas of consumer technology, such as devices and home networking, gaming and the smart home, VR and wearables. It’s vitally important that we can focus on all the opportunities these technologies bring for our partners. The Consumer Technology Group will provide the focus and synergy needed to maximise the potential.
“The market has moved on from a product based sell – it’s now about propositions, ecosystems and connected experiences. As these markets develop, this will become even more important. We see very significant growth in these areas and we will be making strategic and targeted investments to ensure that Tech Data and will lead the way in identifying opportunities and opening them up for our vendor partners and customers.”
