Technology Reseller - v08

technolog y reseller.co.uk 15 BULLETIN : RESELLERS New CEO for Centerprise Hampshire-based IT provider Centerprise International Limited has appointed Jeremy Nash as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Nash joined Centerprise International from HP Enterprise Services in July 2013. Starting as a Business Manager, he joined the Centerprise Board of Directors as Sales Director in September 2015. Before joining HP Enterprise Services, Nash served with the RAF as a commissioned officer for 23 years. Norton to Blackbox To cope with growing demand for its IT solutions, Maidstone-based office technology supplier Blackbox Solutions has hired a new IT technician, Martin Norton, and promoted James August to Senior IT Administrator. A Certified Network Cable Technician, Norton will be responsible for installing hardware and software and for on-site and remote customer support. Prior to joining Blackbox, he spent 25 years as a Technical Analyst at HSBC where his duties included leading the IT team, providing technical support to HSBC’s trading floor and managing a team of network engineers. www.blackbox-solutions.co.uk Core strength Dympna Wilson has been made director of core services at Frontline Consultancy after two years in a variety of senior roles, including SAP project manager, head of project management and head of core services. Prior to joining the Cheshire-based managed IT services and ERP solutions provider, Wilson was a client for nearly two decades. Before that, she was a driving force behind the UK’s first healthcare cloud in her role as head of service delivery at the NHS. Frontline Consultancy is a SAP Gold Partner and a Sage X3 Accredited Partner, with more than 25 years’ experience. www.frontline-consultancy.com Daisy wins award for innovation IT, telecoms and cloud services provider Daisy Group has scooped an award for innovation at software giant BMC’s annual BMC Exchange event in London. The award recognises Daisy’s achievement in automating processes that protect hundreds of its mid- market customers from critical service interruptions. BMC technology has enabled Daisy to enhance its proactive system monitoring with early warnings, so that it can fix problems before customers are impacted, and more effectively pass information to customer service teams through integration with other tools, whilst also reducing the cost of licences and support from other system management software providers. Daisy Group Infrastructure Director John Holt said: “We extended our relationship with BMC last year and not only has this helped us in the integration of our operations, it has allowed us to bring Azure and hybrid cloud to our Corporate Services customer base, in a way that is agile and consistent.” www.daisygroup.com @philjones40 Insider... It’s a wonderful time for reflection, looking back and really thinking about all that has happened – market movements, customer wins and losses, high and lows, environmental changes, lessons identified and, more importantly, lessons learned. In the environment in which we all operate, with high speed, rapid and unpredictable change, it’s vital to take stock of where you are and, if necessary, to adjust your orientation. I call this having a ‘climate check’.   A climate check is made up of a few key questions: n What’s changed (customers/market/technology)? n What’s working/not working? n What have been our major gains/losses? n What are the uncomfortable truths we must face? n What major actions and changes must we implement? The point being that the ‘climate’ for different business within an overall operating environment won’t be the same. Even in tight market conditions, some businesses do well, exploiting the circumstances to launch a new business model, to review their proposition or to switch their product portfolio to a future technology or service that can provide a profit stream.   Successful businesses and leaders place great importance on regular climate checks, recognising the value of being able to take stock, review, change, update or re- organise. It is important for salespeople to do the same – to think about customer pain points, the business development approach and value proposition. After all, there’s no point working harder at something that isn’t working. With a quieter month, make sure you get a good rest, spend some quality time with the people that are important to you and come back fully charged with a book full of your climate check reflections. Generating clarity can be galvanising and energising for you and those around you.  2018 promises to bring further challenges and change; let’s all be ready. See you out there. Phil Jones MBE , Managing Director, Brother UK Here we are again; another Christmas has rolled around indicating that another year has passed.