Tech Data To Add Resources To TDCloud

Tech Data said Monday it would be dedicating new resources and leadership to TDCloud while simultaneously appointing a longtime veteran to oversee the platform.

Stacy Nethercoat, who has been with the company for 19 years and previously served as vice president of product marketing, software and cloud services, was named vice president of the corporation’s cloud entity.

Tech Data's TDCloud business unit launched in September 2011 as a team of cloud experts dedicated to supporting its channel of solution providers through education, enablement and adoption of cloud and subscription-based services. It’s automated through the company’s StreamOne global IT development platform, an automated buying, selling, provisioning and billing system for cloud and subscription-based services technology that scales the business and operational scope.

[Related: Tech Data's TDCloud Helps VARs Ready Cloud Solutions]

TDCloud has brought on VMWare’s vCloud Hybrid service as well as Amazon Web Services, though Nethercoat told CRN there are new developments for TDCloud nearly every week. TDCloud now provides more than 65 cloud vendors on its line card, representing products from backup and disaster recovery to CRM and ERP applications.

’We’re seeing partners accelerate the adoption and embracing private, public and hybrid clouds,’ she said. ’We, in distribution, and like many businesses, see opportunity and the strategic value.’

With news of Nethercoat's appointment, resources will also be made available to bolster TDCloud, by bringing on more staff for sales, marketing and reseller enablement as well as in operations, Tech Data representatives said.

’The sales resources are going to be specializing in very specific workloads that we see as growing rapidly and in need of additional support for our platforms,’ Nethercoat explained.

Tech Data's cloud platform makes cloud services from multiple vendors accessible to solution providers by taking out the complexity of dealing with all those vendors, a company representative previously told CRN. The group’s packaging of cloud solutions lets the distributor bring together the different components needed to make a complete solution that is then available for solution providers' immediate use.

Tech Data told CRN this week Microsoft, the corporation’s largest cloud vendor, will also be moving under TDCloud. Nethercoat said Tech Data’s internal restructuring seemed fitting for the changing times.

’It’s an interesting trend and one we’re excited about and happy to support,’ she said. ’In fact, really, these major vendors have put the full force of their brand and effort behind cloud solutions. We see that as a key driver of momentum in the channel.’

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Matt Katzer, founder and partner of Lake Oswego, Ore.-based Kamind IT, has been with TDCloud since the beginning. As a Microsoft Tier 1 Cloud Champion, he said TDCloud helps his business as they offer services for Microsoft’s Azure. Katzer said hearing of Tech Data’s latest developments has him excited for the future.

’I’ve met Stacy before on a number of occasions,’ he added. ’I like how (Tech Data) structures things and the way they do business. For us, as we’ve grown our business, they’re been extremely supportive and fair.’

Graham Mannassi, owner of the Tech Data partner Mannassi Consulting in Woodland Hills, Calif., said his group just acquired TDCloud and is excited to start offering those services to their own customers.

’It adds a larger portfolio for us to resell,’ Mannassi said. ’They’re a single-source for multiple cloud products. … We’re always looking for anybody (that’s a vendor) to constantly upgrade and improve their services.’

In her new role, Nethercoat will lead the strategic direction, operations and go-to-market execution of TDCloud across the country while continuing to report to Senior Vice President of U.S. Marketing Brian Davis.

"Cloud computing continues to be a strategic focus for Tech Data throughout the company's operations," Davis said in a press release. "Since the inception of TDCloud, Stacy's leadership and vision have proven invaluable in the growth and development of our cloud business. Our new dedicated sales, reseller enablement, field marketing and operations resources, as well as our new organizational structure, solidifies our commitment to growth in cloud computing and better aligns us with this important part of our company's strategy."

Nethercoat said Tech Data will continue to adapt to bring the best services and offer the most support to their VARs.

’This appointment is really in support of our continued and future investments, to build out our solution sets for our partners, build out our dedicated team to cloud experts, to work with our partners and to enable them through our business transformation in adopting cloud solutions,’ she said.

PUBLISHED AUG. 25, 2014