Datatec appoints new Logicalis head

Johannesburg, 03 Nov 2006

Logicalis has named Ian Cook as CEO, says international ICT company Datatec Group.

Cook will head up Datatec's IT infrastructure solutions and network integration business from the beginning of March next year, while current CEO Jens Montanana will become chairman. Montanana is also Datatec group CEO.

Montanana says Cook's appointment is part of a succession planning process. This took into account his international experience, as well as the significant business improvement and market share gains made in the UK.

These gains contributed to the overall growth in revenue, and large improvements in the profitability of the Logicalis Group seen over the last few years.

For the year ended February, Logicalis posted revenue of $545.6 million, which includes $105.3 million arising from the acquisitions made during the year. This compares to revenue of $340.9 million from continuing operations in 2005.

"The company is now heading towards becoming a $1 billion revenue organisation and already employs over 1 000 people," Montanana says.

A company statement says the appointment coincides with its financial year. Cook, based at Logicalis' international headquarters in Slough, England, will assume all day-to-day responsibility for the operations and management of Logicalis in North and South America, as well as in Europe.

Cook joined Logicalis as head of European operations in 2003, after more than 25 years in the technology industry. He was previously executive vice-president of sales and marketing at Damovo SA, the global communications services company, responsible for the company's solution development and market proposition.