ITWeb receives news that IT industry veteran Philip Cowles has passed away.
Cowles was a founding member of Software Connection (later the Connection Group), with Paul Moses and Pierre Joubert. From 1992 to 1999, he served as CEO of the Connection Group, which played a significant role in the South African IT industry, in particular its retail sector through Incredible Connection.
Cowles was also part of an empowerment initiative that led to Software Connection providing seed capital of R4 million for the formation of Business Connexion in 1996.
Most recently, Cowles worked as managing director of iPulse Systems Europe at the company's offices in the Netherlands.
He was previously regional MD of distribution company ADI Southern Africa, before moving to ADI Benelux to direct operations in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg.
Cowles later worked as MD of security distribution company, Norbain Benelux, between 2010 and 2012, directing operations in the same region.
Gary Chalmers, group CEO of iPulse, says Cowles was an inspirational man, who was always able to find a way to get something done and whose vast network of contacts and friends was always able to open doors.
On a personal note, Chalmers adds, Cowles was responsible for giving him his first chance in business, and helping him to build and launch Training Connection. "Without Philip, my working career may have been very different, and I will be eternally grateful to him for seeing more in me than others did at the time," says Chalmers.
"Philip will sadly missed by many, and our heartfelt sympathies go out to his wife and children, who have lost their husband and father, and to his mother, who was always there for him through thick and thin."
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