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Watts takes the reins in the UK at Tech Data
In a move that will add more muscle to the UK management team long time staffer David Watts has formally been given the country management role
Tech Data continues to finesse its UK management team with the decision to hand the responsibility for country management to David Watts.
The long time Tech Data staffer becomes managing director of the UK and Ireland having been acting as deputy MD for the last couple of years.
Last November Andy Gass was given the role of senior vice president of UK and Ireland and Digital, Europe, with a fairly broad remit that included looking after the strategic development of what was happening on this side of the channel.
The decision to appoint Watts, who has been with the distributor except for a few years since 1998, will give the local management structure even more muscle.
"You will see us being a better partner to our customers and innovating to address the needs of a fast-changing market. Success will be demonstrated by improving Tech Data’s position as the go-to distributor and trusted advisor to the channel," said Watts.
In his decade at Tech Data he has been involved with various roles, most recently being appointed deputy managing director back in February 2016.
Gass said that the appointment came at a moment when the business was looking for the next stage of its development.
"Following the integration of Avnet Technology Solutions, we are ready to launch the next phase of our growth strategy," he said.
"The combination of David driving our business operations, together with me focusing on the strategic development and the digitalization of our business model and go-to-market strategy, will ensure that we meet the needs of and innovate with our vendor and reseller partners," he added.
Tech Data completed the $2.6bn acquisition of Avnet Technology Solutions back in February 2017 and during the third quarter of last year finished the integration of the Avnet business.
David Watts
Before his stint as acting UK managing director he spent five years at the distributor in the commercial director role. In that position he was responsible for the Broadline, Maverick and Datech businesses, in a new role to the Company created in June 2011. He first joined the company in 1998 and became General Manager of the PC Division in 2003. He then spent two years as Head of Samsung Electronic’s UK Display Division, returning to Tech Data in 2007 to join the UK Board.
