Another IBMer rolls into distribution

Arrow ECS has lured veteran IBM man Ian Jeffs to run its Big Blue franchise in the UK, say our chatty sources.

This follows the exit of previous incumbent Allister Richardson who, according to his LinkedIn and Google + account, has since become EMEA boss at iSys Capital Technologies.

Jeffs will use his near 20 years experience at IBM – most recently as business unit exec for mid-market sales – to help the distie make sense of IBM's numerous, complex sales incentive programmes.

IBM refuses to comment on moves by any individual members of staff, but its PR pointed out that last year it seconded 500 staff in the channel under the Champions for Growth programme, and expects to send out another 500 this year.

The spokesman said this was all about IBM becoming a "more focused channel organisation, working more closely with business partners and one of the key things is skills".

Former channel boss for Europe Dave Cornick was among those to get a channel work placement, which can both for the short and long haul, when he pitched up at Tech Data.

Jeffs' move, however, is understood to be permanent. He follows another local IBM and Lenovo exec into distribution after Gareth Hansford, EMEA software channel boss, recently exited the vendor to become Azlan's UK head.

Arrow was not available to comment at the time of writing. ®