New Ingram Micro CEO Vows Commitment To Channel
"For the last year, Kent has given us the leeway to set the direction of the company. We have had ample opportunity to do that," he said.
Spierkel and Kevin Murai were named co-presidents in April 2004 with the implicit understanding that one of them likely would be the next CEO when Foster retired. They heard the board's decision last Wednesday, only an hour before it was released publicly. Murai was named president and COO.
"There are a few companies that have put two senior people in roles sharing lots of responsibilities. It gave Kevin and [me] exposure to the strategy, governance and all the other things around being a large public company," Spierkel said.
The tactic has its risks, Spierkel acknowledged. "There's always a risk when two men struggle to share responsibility," he said of the co-presidency. But rather than become adversaries, Murai and Spierkel became friends, and they intend to remain that way, Murai said.
"Collectively, we can bring our experiences and opinions to help us get to the right decision. In general, we agree on what we believe we need to do," Murai said. He added that he does not plan to leave Ingram Micro anytime soon.
"My 17th anniversary here is in July. This has always been more than just a job for me. I'm excited about working well with [Spierkel] in the future," Murai said.
Some solution providers hope Spierkel's ascension will lead to improved programs for customers.
"Instead of cost-cutting, you have to invest in IT infrastructure and more support for resellers in the area of merchandise returns. Those are areas they haven't invested in, and it is going to drive people to other distributors," said Darren McBride, president of Sierra Computers and Training, a Reno, Nev., solution provider.
Spierkel hinted that some programs successful in Europe and Asia will soon be coming to North America, such as solutions around telecom services and Ingram Micro's own V7-branded lines of monitors and other products.
"That is a new niche for us and adjacent to our current business, but it's an example of what we want to do," Spierkel said.
Ingram Micro is also talking with consumer electronics manufacturers and wants to expand its presence globally in the POS and automatic identification and data collection spaces, he said.
"We are committed to the channel. We do everything we can to provide a competitive offering," Spierkel said.