Andy Bryant has been promoted to president, Avnet Computer Marketing Group (CMG), a division of global electronics and computer distributor Avnet, Inc., according to Roy Vallee, Avnet's chairman and chief executive officer. Bryant, formerly president of Avnet CMG's Hall-Mark division, now reports to Vallee. He is currently a vice president/corporate officer of Avnet, Inc. and will be joining the corporate management board, Vallee said. Bryant succeeds Rich Ward, who is retiring at the end of calendar year 1999, but continues his role as a member of Avnet, Inc.'s management board. Ward will also serve as a consultant to CMG, according to Vallee. "I would like to publicly thank Rich Ward for his numerous contributions over the last decade," Vallee said. "Rich played a significant role within Avnet and in the computer distribution industry. He took Avnet CMG, which includes the Hall-Mark companies and Avnet Computer, from $300 million in sales in 1993 to over $1.4 billion today. He built the computer marketing group segment of Avnet, Inc. on a foundation of customer- and vendor- service excellence. We expect this tradition to continue under the leadership of Andy Bryant, as he leads the expansion of CMG's activities globally." "These are exciting times for growth, "Bryant said. "We have an excellent management team with the talent and experience to take this division to a higher level. I look forward to the challenge of growing our business in the global marketplace. With the official launch of Hall-Mark Global Solutions, we mark a major milestone in our company's history." "The last decade has been an exciting journey," Ward said. "It is time for me to move on to new challenges. I'm very proud to have guided CMG, where the collective accumulation of our work together has positioned the company as an industry leader. I see a limitless future for CMG with Andy at the helm." Bryant, a 21-year veteran of the distribution industry, began his career in 1978 with Hamilton Avnet Electronics, where he spent 10 years in sales and marketing posts. His background includes customer service, inside sales management and product management. Later he served as product marketing director and area sales manager. Prior to taking over as president of the Hall-Mark Computer Division, Bryant spent seven years -- 1991 to 1998 -- with Avnet Computer. As president of Avnet Computer from July 1996 to July 1998, he was responsible for all business operations involving enterprise, departmental, enterprise resource planning, network integration, custom assembly and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) computing solutions. Headquartered in Tempe, Ariz., Avnet Computer Marketing Group, which includes Hall-mark Global Solutions and Avnet Computer, is a global distributor of computer products to value-added resellers and end users focusing primarily on middle- to high- end, value-added computer products and services. CMG's 1998 sales were $1.40 billion, representing approximately 24% of Avnet, Inc.'s consolidated sales. Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT) is a Phoenix, Arizona-based Fortune 500 company with $5.9 billion in sales. Avnet markets, inventories and adds value to the products of the foremost electronic components and computer equipment manufacturers for customers in 59 countries. ots Original Text Service: Avnet Computer Marketing Group Internet: http://www.newsaktuell.de Contact: Sean Fanning, Vice President, Marketing, Hall-Mark Global Solutions (USA) 602-414-5503, or Al Maag, Chief Communications Officer (USA) 630-515-0332, both of Avnet, Inc.; or Debbie Mitchell of Mullen Public Relations (USA) 602-222- 4343 Web site: http://www.avnet.com