Insight promotes from within for next UK boss

Insight has settled on its choice of leader for the UK operation ahead of changes to the European management team that come into effect from the start of next year.

Back in February, the channel player revealed that its current Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) president, Wolfgang Ebermann, would leave that role at the end of the year, to be replaced by Emma de Sousa, currently senior vice-president of the UK business, from 1 January 2021.

That left a question mark over who would be stepping into de Sousa’s shoes, which the firm has answered today.

From the start of next year, Darren Hedley will become managing director of the company’s UK and Ireland business. He is currently sales director of public sector, UK and Ireland, and has been with the firm for three years.

Prior to joining Insight, Hedley spent time at HPE and has some time at Kelway on his CV, but he has made a positive impact in the public sector side of the business over the past few years.

“It is a huge honour to be asked to lead Insight in the UK. The team have really demonstrated our core values of hunger, heart and harmony when helping clients through the exceptional circumstance of the last few months, providing vital solutions to enable new ways of working and build business resilience. I could not be prouder to lead such a talented and successful UK team,” said Hedley.

“Insight continues to go from strength to strength. Our investments in developing and bringing in new talent to support our new services practices have really paid off. I look forward to working with teammates, clients and partners to build on this momentum and support clients on their transformation journeys,” he added.

The plan is for de Sousa to onboard Hedley from 1 October before she steps away to start her own fresh EMEA challenge.

“Nurturing and developing talent internally is a core part of Insight’s DNA. With strong leaders in position across the UK and Ireland business, I was keen for us to appoint an internal candidate who was already living and breathing Insight’s values,” she said.

“I’m confident Darren will be just as successful in leading the UK as he has been in developing and driving forward our public sector business. As part of the UK management team, he’s played a key role in transforming Insight into a major solutions and services player. Under his leadership, the public sector team has delivered transformational solutions to organisations across the country and robust year-on-year growth for Insight,” she added.