John Hurrell, who has led Westcon AME as CEO for the past three years, is leaving his post to become non-executive chairman.
Hurrell says he joined the industry in July 1965. "I`m 62 years old and I`ve been in the industry for 42 years. The day had to come sometime," he says.
Hurrell is being replaced as CEO by Jacques Malherbe, who joined the Datatec subsidiary as national sales director in January. He is to take up the reins on 1 July.
Datatec CEO Jens Montanana says Malherbe has 20 years of experience in ICT and distribution logistics in Africa and the US.
Hurrell, then 59, took the helm at Westcon AME in August 2003, after stints at Duxbury and Data Office Network.
Prior to that, he spent 31 years at ICL, leading the multinational corporation`s buyout of Lonnet and becoming Lonnet`s MD.
At Westcon AME, Hurrell oversaw the company`s reorganisation, consolidating operations, relocating the sales and distribution centre and making several key appointments, including that of Malherbe.
Hurrell says he believes he will enjoy his new role. "Obviously, after 42 years, I have something to offer someone at some time," he says. "Basically the new role will involve my being an executive interface between Westcon AME and its business partners. By that I mean the vendors and the customers."
He adds that he is pleased with his achievements at the company, saying it is now a healthy company with staff who are motivated.
Malherbe says convergence and converging technologies will continue to drive the business.
"A key focus going forward is to elevate the business by providing true services to resellers and adding value in new areas," he says.
"Product adoption advice is just one such example. Technology solutions consulting and training will enable our partners to become more valuable to their existing customers and will also enable them to break into new markets."
Malherbe says Westcon AME grew revenue 10% in the year to end-February, and this is expected to improve to 25% in the current financial year.
Westcon AME is one of JSE-listed Datatec`s two South African operations. While Montanana said last week that the subsidiary had experienced a "very encouraging year", the other local business, RangeGate, incurred what Montanana described as a small loss.
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