Avnet Technology Solutions’ Phil Gallagher and Chris Swahn Recognized as CRN 2014 Channel Chiefs

Executives recognized for their ability to accelerate growth for Avnet and its channel partners

Honored for the second year in a row, Phil Gallagher, president of Avnet Technology Solutions, Global, was recognized by CRN as a Channel Chief for his role in helping suppliers and partners expand their businesses geographically, while capitalizing on technology growth markets and services. (Photo: Business Wire)

HIMSS14

TEMPE, Ariz.--()--Avnet Technology Solutions, the global IT solutions distribution leader and an operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), today announced that Phil Gallagher, president of Avnet Technology Solutions, Global, and Chris Swahn, vice president and general manager, Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas, HP Solutions group, were both selected as 2014 Channel Chiefs by The Channel Company’s CRN magazine. This prestigious list of the most powerful leaders in the IT channel recognizes those executives directly responsible for driving channel sales and growth within their organizations, while evangelizing the importance of the channel throughout the entire IT Industry.

Honored for the second year in a row, Gallagher was recognized for his role in helping suppliers and partners expand their businesses geographically, while capitalizing on technology growth markets and services. In 2013, Gallagher aided in the launch of Avnet Services, a global business model designed to create greater alignment and increase operational efficiencies for Avnet’s services offerings. Additionally, under Gallagher’s leadership, Avnet Technology Solutions expanded its distribution relationships with SAP to include Asia, the U.S. and Canada, and Cisco and EMC into Latin America, enabling the regional sale of converged solutions.

“Phil continues to exemplify Avnet’s strategic focus on growth, globalization and great people,” said Rick Hamada, chief executive officer, Avnet, Inc. “During this past year, Phil helped Avnet Technology Solutions and its partners capitalize on high-growth opportunities around the globe, including new services and solutions. His inclusion on CRN’s list of Channel Chiefs for the second year in a row is a well-deserved recognition of these contributions.”

Making his debut on CRN’s Channel Chiefs list, Swahn was recognized for his success in leading the HP business within Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas. Throughout the past year, Swahn assisted in accelerating HP’s turnaround with the channel. With his guidance, Avnet Technology Solutions became HP’s go-to distributor for converged systems, and Swahn assisted in launching new converged systems at HP Discover. As a result, Avnet was one of the first distributors to sell HP’s Moonshot technology. Swahn helped jump start HP’s offerings in the converged marketplace by leveraging Avnet’s services capabilities to create exclusive solutions only available to Avnet Technology Solutions’ HP partners. This included the rollout of Avnet’s Practice+ for Analytics, featuring IT services, technology solutions and enablement, with access to Avnet Technology Solutions’ team of 100+ HP experts holding 500+ HP certifications. Additionally, he aided in positioning partners to win with HP big data and analytics solutions such as a new healthcare analytics platform.

“Chris is passionate about helping Avnet Technology Solutions’ employees, partners and suppliers succeed,” said Jeff Bawol, president, Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas. “His vision has led to the creation of market-specific solutions for HP partners to help them capitalize on the latest opportunities in converged systems, analytics and healthcare solutions. He is a great asset to the team, and we are proud of his recognition.”

CRN Channel Chiefs were selected by the CRN editorial team based on channel experience, program innovations, channel-driven revenue, and public support for the importance of IT channel sales.

“We are pleased to highlight the many executives throughout the industry who work tirelessly to advance the standing of the channel community within their organizations. The CRN Channel Chief honorees lead, inspire and engage peers and serve as valuable advocates to help ensure the health and longevity of the channel within the IT industry. We applaud their efforts and look forward to their continued success,” said Robert Faletra, CEO, The Channel Company.

The 2014 Channel Chiefs list is featured in the February/March issue of CRN, and online at www.CRN.com.

Click to tweet: Avnet’s Phil Gallagher and Chris Swahn recognized as 2014 Channel Chiefs by @CRN http://avnet.me/01746.

Follow Avnet Technology Solutions on Twitter: @AvnetAdvantage and @AvnetTSChannels.

Connect with Avnet Technology Solutions on LinkedIn: Avnet Technology Solutions.

About The Channel Company

The Channel Company is the channel community's trusted authority for growth and innovation, with established brands including CRN, XChange Events, IPED, and SharedVue. For more than three decades, we have leveraged our proven and leading-edge platforms to deliver prescriptive sales and marketing solutions for the technology channel. The Channel Company provides Communication, Recruitment, Engagement, Enablement, Demand Generation and Intelligence services to drive technology partnerships. Learn more at www.thechannelcompany.com.

About Avnet Technology Solutions

As a global IT solutions distributor, Avnet Technology Solutions collaborates with its customers and suppliers to create and deliver services, software and hardware solutions that address the business needs of their end-user customers locally and around the world. The group serves customers and suppliers in North America, Latin America and Caribbean, Asia Pacific, and Europe, Middle East and Africa. It generated US $10.36 billion in annual revenue for fiscal year 2013. Avnet Technology Solutions is an operating group of Avnet, Inc. For more information, visit http://www.ats.avnet.com.

About Avnet

Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded technology serving customers globally. Avnet accelerates its partners' success by connecting the world's leading technology suppliers with a broad base of customers by providing cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended June 29, 2013, Avnet generated revenue of $25.5 billion. For more information, visit www.avnet.com.

Contacts

Brodeur Partners, for Avnet Technology Solutions
Marcia Chapman, 480-308-0284
mchapman@brodeur.com
or
The Channel Company
Betzi-Lynn Hanc, 508-416-1182
betzi.hanc@thechannelcompany.com

Contacts

Brodeur Partners, for Avnet Technology Solutions
Marcia Chapman, 480-308-0284
mchapman@brodeur.com
or
The Channel Company
Betzi-Lynn Hanc, 508-416-1182
betzi.hanc@thechannelcompany.com