New President Heads Avnet Computer Marketing Group

Phoenix (PROTEXT) - Andy Bryant has been promoted topresident, Avnet Computer Marketing Group (CMG), a division ofglobal electronics and computer distributor Avnet, Inc.,according to Roy Vallee, Avnet's chairman and chief executiveofficer. Bryant, formerly president of Avnet CMG's Hall-Markdivision, now reports to Vallee. He is currently a vicepresident/corporate officer of Avnet, Inc. and will be joiningthe corporate management board, Vallee said. Bryant succeeds Rich Ward, who is retiring at the end ofcalendar year 1999, but continues his role as a member of Avnet,Inc.'s management board. Ward will also serve as a consultant toCMG, according to Vallee. "I would like to publicly thank Rich Ward for his numerouscontributions over the last decade," Vallee said. "Rich played asignificant role within Avnet and in the computer distributionindustry. He took Avnet CMG, which includes the Hall-Markcompanies and Avnet Computer, from $300 million in sales in 1993to over $1.4 billion today. He built the computer marketing groupsegment of Avnet, Inc. on a foundation of customer- and vendor-service excellence. We expect this tradition to continue underthe leadership of Andy Bryant, as he leads the expansion of CMG'sactivities globally." "These are exciting times for growth, "Bryant said. "We havean excellent management team with the talent and experience totake this division to a higher level. I look forward to thechallenge of growing our business in the global marketplace. Withthe official launch of Hall-Mark Global Solutions, we mark amajor milestone in our company's history." "The last decade has been an exciting journey," Ward said. "Itis time for me to move on to new challenges. I'm very proud tohave guided CMG, where the collective accumulation of our worktogether has positioned the company as an industry leader. I seea limitless future for CMG with Andy at the helm." Bryant, a 21-year veteran of the distribution industry, beganhis career in 1978 with Hamilton Avnet Electronics, where hespent 10 years in sales and marketing posts. His backgroundincludes customer service, inside sales management and productmanagement. Later he served as product marketing director andarea sales manager. Prior to taking over as president of the Hall-Mark ComputerDivision, Bryant spent seven years -- 1991 to 1998 -- with AvnetComputer. As president of Avnet Computer from July 1996 to July1998, he was responsible for all business operations involvingenterprise, departmental, enterprise resource planning, networkintegration, 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, isa global distributor of computer products to value-addedresellers and end users focusing primarily on middle- to high-end, value-added computer products and services. CMG's 1998 saleswere $1.40 billion, representing approximately 24% of Avnet,Inc.'s consolidated sales. Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT) is a Phoenix, Arizona-based Fortune500 company with $5.9 billion in sales. Avnet markets,inventories and adds value to the products of the foremostelectronic components and computer equipment manufacturers forcustomers in 59 countries. ots Original Text Service: AvnetComputer Marketing Group Internet: http://www.newsaktuell.deContact: Sean Fanning, Vice President, Marketing, Hall-MarkGlobal Solutions (USA) 602-414-5503, or Al Maag, ChiefCommunications 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

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