Through The Years: Westcon Celebrates 25th Anniversary

Westcon Group is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The Tarrytown, N.Y.-based distributor was founded in 1985 and has developed into a $3 billion supplier of networking solutions to VARs in 19 countries. Here’s a look back at the company through the years.

The three founders of Westcon pose for a photo in 1985. From left are Tom Dolan, Phil Raffiani and Roman Michalowski.

The founders of Westcon Group pose again in 1989, from left, Michalowski, Dolan and Raffiani.

Michalowski, Raffiani and Dolan (standing, second, third and fourth, from left) along with Westcon Group’s Chris Jones (standing right), pose with some vendor executives receiving appreciation awards in 1997. Westcon can’t identify the vendors’ executives. Can you?

Michalowski prepares to give out more awards, circa the 1980s, at the Hilton Rye Town near Westcon’s headquarters in Tarrytown, N.Y.

Westcon’s Dolan is all smiles during an awards presentation from the company’s early days when the distributor, and the IT industry in general, grew at a rapid pace.

A crane installs a “Comstor” sign at the company’s headquarters after Westcon purchased the Cisco Systems-focused distributor from General Electric in 1999.

Datatec, a South African-based company, purchased 92.5 percent of Westcon Group in a deal valued at $160 million, which helped provide Westcon with the capital necessary to expand into the networking leader it is today.

Chris Fender of Westcon Group, at right, presents a sales achievement award to Richard Morganti in 1997 for sales of Digi International products. Fender is still with Westcon as director of service sales, North America.

Amy Springer, right, of Westcon Group, shows off the distributor’s latest offerings to a group of visitors at an undated trade show.

Fender, right, poses with Bert Abbatiello, who took home two sales achievement awards in 1997. Abbatiello is still with Westcon as a sales associate.

An exterior shot of Westcon Group’s current headquarters in Tarrytown. The company has more than 1,500 employees in 47 locations in 19 countries around the world.

A shot of Westcon Group’s warehouse in Chantilly, Va., one of five the distributor has in North America, joining Reno, Nev., Montreal, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and one in Mexico.

Alan Marc Smith joined Westcon in 1997 and served as CEO from 2001 to 2004. During his tenure, Westcon Group had applied for but ultimately shied away from an initial public offering.

John O’Malley, executive vice president of finance and CFO (left), and current CEO Dean Douglas, discuss the company’s strategy for 2011 and beyond.