AVAD Names Annes VP/GM, Consolidates Operations
By Steve Smith -- TWICE, 5/4/2009
Van Nuys, Calif. – Jim Annes has been named AVAD’s VP/general manager as part of a reorganization of the custom home electronics distributor that involves the consolidation of some branch offices.
Annes takes over for John Soumbasakis, senior VP of strategic divisions for Ingram Micro which owns AVAD. He served as the interim leader of the distributor since the fall of 2008 when Bob Gartland, founding principal of AVAD, stepped down in September 2008, the company said.
Annes, along with the rest of the AVAD management team, will still report to Soumbasakis.
Ingram Micro, which also owns DBL Distribution of Scottsdale, Ariz., announced last Friday that Henry Chiarelli, president, and senior VP of sales Bruce Kuperman stepped down and were replaced by Brent McCarty, who was named VP/general manager. As in the case of AVAD, DBL’s management team reports to Soumbasakis.
Annes joins AVAD from Ingram Micro, where he spent the last six years. He headed the company’s worldwide strategic planning unit for the past four years. Prior to Ingram Micro, he held management roles at KPMG Consulting and Brience.
In addition to the appointment of Annes, AVAD has named Wally Whinna to the position of sales and marketing executive VP as part of a strategy to consolidate its sales and marketing functions. Whinna, an original co-founder of AVAD, previously oversaw AVAD’s marketing department as marketing VP since the company’s inception in 1997.
AVAD’s new organizational structure allows the company to consolidate from three regions to two—east and west. Steve Clark will serve as AVAD’s west region director and Kim Brown as east region director.
AVAD will also significantly increase its phone-based customer support and sales programs to ensure the distributor’s customer base of 10,000 custom electronics dealers are serviced in a timely and professional manner, the distributor said.
“As with any organization, the current economic climate has forced AVAD to take a calculated evaluation of its business strategies and organizational structure,” said Soumbasakis. “We are confident these changes, which came after a careful decision making process by our management team, will improve our efficiency and customer service while streamlining our internal and external operations.”
As a result of its reorganization efforts, AVAD will consolidate the following branches based on a number of criteria, including close proximity to another, more viable AVAD branch: Austin, Texas; Avon, Ohio; Chicago; Las Vegas; Orlando, Fla.; Raleigh, N.C.; Richmond, Va.; Taunton, Mass.; Sacramento, Calif.; and Warren, Mich.
AVAD will retain selected sales associates and resources from each of these branches to ensure its regional customers receive the same service and support. AVAD will offer special pricing on all will call display products at each of these locations through the May 15th closing date.
For more information AVAD urges customers and dealers to contact their regional sales manager at (866) FOR-AVAD or visit www.avad.com for additional information on these recent changes.
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