Distribution Briefs

Bell Microproducts And Samsung Go Global

Lucent Channel Veteran Takes Comstor Position
William McFadden was appointed vice president of product management and marketing at Comstor, a Chantilly, Va.-based channel provider of networking technology products and a division of global Westcon Group. Prior to Comstor, McFadden spent 20 years in telecommunications-management positions at AT&T and, most recently, at Lucent Technologies as vice president of global channel development and vice president of global alliances. In his new position, McFadden will be responsible for the product management and marketing aspects of all Comstor products in the United States, ongoing project management and marketing support for Cisco products, and business development for complementary value products, including the Cisco-approved Eco-system.

Hall-Mark's Life-Sciences Partnership Program Gives IBM VARs a Boost
Avnet Hall-Mark, Tempe, Ariz., has launched its Life Sciences Partnership Program, designed to help its IBM VARs tap into the life-sciences marketplace. VARs will receive strategic and tactical support,including readiness assessment, sales and marketing kits and demand-generation, targeted education, ISV partnership opportunities and access to the IBM Life Sciences support team.

Arrow Launches Courses For Engineering Customers
Arrow Electronics, Melville, N.Y., has launched one-day, technology-based training courses for its engineering customers in 20 North American locations. The Digital Signal Processing courses, which are nonproduct-specific and taught by Arrow engineers, are designed to teach customers how to handle real-world signal-processing challenges through implementation. Arrow expects the courses, which will be available throughout the rest of the year, to develop over time in response to customer feedback.

New Tech Data Sales Chief
Terry Bazzone will take over as vice president of U.S. sales, a role left vacant by the departure of Tim Curran, Tech Data's senior vice president. Curran left the company in August, citing personal reasons. Bazzone was formerly vice president and general manager of Tech Data's enterprise group. Curran, who joined the Clearwater, Fla.-based distributor in 1997, was responsible for driving sales during its fastest growth period. An expert in international sales, Curran helped establish strong ties to leading Japanese manufacturers.

TidalWire Expands Vendor Program
TidalWire, a Westborough, Mass.-based technical distributor specializing in storage area networking, has expanded its Advantage program to benefit companies that develop or sell SAN products. The program will offer services at three levels:

• Distribution partners leverage the sales, marketing, logistics and technical-support infrastructure to expand visibility and market share, provide customers with presales product knowledge and inventory availability, and receive an advanced level of postsales technical support.
• Marketing partners can leverage marketing expertise to gain product and technology visibility. They receive brand-awareness, lead-generation and increased sales opportunities.
• Logistics partners leverage global logistics and technical-support infrastructure. TidalWire delivers products and technical support to Logistics Partner customers worldwide.