Ingram's Collins Resigns, Cites 'Career Objectives'

"I came to the conclusion that I would not be able to achieve my career objectives at Ingram Micro. Therefore, I'm going to give my full energy to find an opportunity that does meet my career objectives," Collins said.

Collins joined Ingram Micro in January 2000 after 15 years at Frito-Lay.

He is the second high-profile, customer-facing executive to leave Ingram Micro this year. In March, Mike Grainger resigned as worldwide president and COO of Ingram Micro.

Ingram Micro immediately hired an external candidate to replace Collins to head sales. Pat Capparelli has been named senior vice president of sales for U.S. operations. Capparelli joins Ingram Micro from Purolator Courier, a Mississauga, Ontario-based overnight courier, where he was a close associate of Ingram Micro President Kevin Murai when Murai ran Canadian operations for the distributor.

"I've known [Capparelli] for a number of years," Murai said. "We have a strong relationship up in Canada with [Purolator]. He's ideally suited with the background that he has to come into our organization and understand our market needs."

Murai would not disclose why Collins was not a candidate for the North American presidency job, but he did say Ingram Micro wants someone for that position who is a "leader with experience in evolving a business model from a commodity focus to a high-value-add model."

Keith Bradley, CFO of North American operations, has been named interim president of North America while the company conducts a search for a permanent candidate.

Bruce Geier, president and CEO of Technology Integration Group, a San Diego-based solution provider, said he hopes the departure of Collins and Grainger doesn't mean a change in philosophy for Ingram Micro.

"I have concerns, of course, depending on how [Chairman and CEO Kent] Foster and Murai put together a team to continue down the path that's been built here," Geier said. "They have to step up and find the right people to drive initiatives and drive partnerships. I have confidence they can put it together." Solution providers should expect no dramatic changes in their relationships with Ingram Micro, Murai said.