NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Computer Design & Integration (CDI), a leading hybrid IT solutions provider, today announced the promotion of current President Rich Falcone to Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Falcone succeeds Eric Bakker, CDI co-founder, who will assume a position on the company’s Board of Directors.
Falcone was promoted to President of CDI in October of 2020, having previously served as President of Sales. Falcone and Bakker have worked alongside each other at CDI for over two decades and had been working together on the CEO transition process for the past year, alongside CDI’s strategic investment firm One Equity Partners (“OEP”).
In his short time as President, Falcone has facilitated the acquisition of four solutions providers (P5 Solutions, Plan B Technologies, Kintrye Solutions and High Availability Inc.), and expanded the CDI international footprint by creating local offices in England and Ireland. In his new role as CEO, he will continue to focus on building CDI’s value to customers through an innovative and aggressive growth strategy.
“Change or die,” said Falcone. “Growth requires change and if we don’t change, we will become irrelevant. That is our mentality.”
“The only way we will continue to grow is by attracting and developing the finest talent, fostering a culture that brings out the best in everyone, and deepening our relationships with our eco-system of industry-leading partners. This formula made us an elite solutions provider and, more importantly, has enabled our customers to effectively transform their businesses into the multi-cloud and digitally driven operating model.”
Bakker co-founded CDI alongside his wife Trish in their family garage in 1995, building the company to yearly sales of $350 million. The company has grown into a multi-location organization with hundreds of employees and winning countless workplace and industry awards. His move to the Board of Directors marks the first time a Bakker has not held the title of Chief Executive Officer of CDI.
“I am extremely proud of everything the CDI family has achieved,” Bakker said. “More than anything, I am grateful to have worked alongside the most amazing people who have made CDI what it is. Without their hard-work and dedication, CDI would not be in the growth position it is in today. I am confident CDI is poised for an even greater future with Rich at the helm.”
Falcone began his career at CDI in 2002 as an Account Manager, assuming multiple roles of increasing responsibility across the organization up to his promotion of CEO. As president, Falcone assembled a new leadership team who saw CDI sales exceed $600 million, with close to $100 million in services.
“I am fortunate and humbled to work with the entire CDI organization,” said Falcone. “The entire leadership team and their respective staff, including the companies we’ve recently acquired, are not only the perfect blend of passion and talent, but also share a client-first mentality. We are in the human capital business and our people are not just everything, but the only thing that will determine our success.”
“Through mergers and acquisitions, we could become a $1 billion company in the near future, but growth for the sake of growth is a fool’s errand. Our primary focus is internal culture and external quality. We are combining some of the best cultures in the industry to create a one-of-a-kind modern IT integrator work environment. Our mission is agility at scale, but we refuse to sacrifice quality for the sake of growth. Our intention is not only to become bigger; the goal is to be better today than we were yesterday.”
About Computer Design & Integration LLC (CDI LLC):
CDI LLC was founded in 1995, with corporate headquarters in New York City, as well as office locations in Teterboro, N.J., Atlanta, Annapolis, Philadelphia, Boston and Virginia. The firm has been recognized as one of the top IT solution providers in the world, offering clients and businesses of all sizes the most up-to-date hybrid IT technology solutions. CDI LLC continually focuses on achieving client satisfaction by developing and implementing comprehensive and innovative technology solutions that enhance day-to-day business workflow processes, and combines the required experience, exceptional talent, quality assurance and stability needed to solve today’s most complex business challenges.
For more information, visit cdillc.com or call 1-877-216-0133. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.
