DiData reshuffles board

Disties! Dealers! More Disties! More Dealers!

Channel Flannel Reseller giant Dimension Data is splitting the role of chief executive and chairman, in line with recommended best business practice.

DiData chief operating officer Brett Dawson is made chief executive. Jeremy Ord moves from executive chairman to non-executive chairman.

Malcolm Rutherford resigned from his post as chief financial officer but will remain on the board as a non-executive director. David Sherriffs will take over as CFO.

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Dabs puts IT board

Dabs.com is creating the new role of IT director to help the computer dealer with international expansion. Paul Sharrock is taking on the job - he previously worked in research and development at dabs.
He aims to work on process improvements which will improve customer satisfaction and is also responsible for longer-term IT strategy to support European expansion - dabs is launching a French version of its site in the next few months.

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Probrand results grow online

Birmingham-based reseller Probrand almost doubled turnover through its website the IT Index. Turnover last year was £1m. This year it grew to £1.8m. Overall resale turnover fell slightly from £10.1m in 2002 to £9.8m for 2003.

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Azlan shouts about voice

Networking specialist Azlan is using the launch of Alcatel's wireless data and voice over IP products to tell resellers about the business opportunities of selling voice kit. The distributor believes many businesses are now ready to use VoIP.Azlan is organising a series of promotional and educational events for resellers.

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Webroot branches out to UK

Webroot, a US privacy software company, is setting up shop in the UK. Its products, including WindowWasher, MacWasher and SpySweeper, protect users' privacy and guard against spyware. Rolf Doerr, European managing director, said the company is "consummating deals" with pan-European resellers and is in the final stages of announcing partnerships.

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Tandberg's partner programme goes live

Storage distie Tandberg has revealed its reseller or partner programme. There are three levels - gold, silver and, confusingly, storage. Gold partners get two per cent 'kick-back credit' while silver partners get one per cent. The next training session is 3 and 4 March in Dortmund, Germany.

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Magirus flogs VMware in UK

Magirus has gone live with VMware distribution for the UK. It is now an authorised VMWare training centre and it is to embark on a dealer recruitment and accreditation drive. The distie secured EMEA wholesale rights for EMC-owned VMWare in October, 2003.

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NEC in plasma drive

NEC is increasing incentives for resellers to flog its flat screens and plasma displays. Dealers will earn cash rewards for every NEC display they sell. If they exceed sales targets by 110 per cent for three months running they will get a cash bonus.

All bonuses go onto the dealer's personal NEC Incentive Award card - this can be used for purchases anywhere that takes Visa cards. ®