PC Retail

DSGI: Finance director for international electricals NICHOLAS CADBURY has been promoted to group financial director after the parent company of B&Q, Kingfisher, poached KEVIN O'BYRNE – prompting a board reshuffle.

Cadbury has been with the retailer since 1993 and has worked as finance director and commercial director of PC World and managing director of the chain's Dixon Tax Free stores.

Chief executive of DSGi John Browett had nothing but praise for Cadbury: "Nicholas has wide experience of our operations across the Group. He brings great experience in a number of areas, both in the UK and internationally."

Speaking on O'Byrne's departure, Browett said: "I would like to thank Kevin for the contribution he has made to our business. I'd also like to thank him for the support he has provided since I joined the Group."


AMD: Longstanding CEO, HECTOR RUIZ (pictured right) has stepped down after the firm experienced its seventh consecutive quarterly financial loss, to be replaced by former chief operating officer DIRK MEYER (pictured bottom right).

Ruiz had earlier in his stewardship overseen some of the best quarters the vendor has ever had, including the launch and success of its AMD Athlon 64 processor chipset, which saw it gain significant market share on its rival Intel.

However, his decision to approve the purchase of ATI in 2006 is seen as the beginning of AMD's current downturn.

Meyer was also instrumental in the success of AMD's Athlon series as the firm's director of engineering and president and chief operating officer of AMD's Microprocessor Solutions Sector.

Ruiz will continue at the vendor as its executive chairman.


ASDA: The supermarket's non-food trading director PETER PRITCHARD (pictured right) is set to leave the supermarket after chief executive Andy Bond dissolved the position and merged its responsibilities with its food counterpart, headed by DARREN BLACKHURST.

Blackhurst (pictured right), who has presided over food trading, will become the firm's new group trading director, responsible for both food and non-food retail at the UK's second largest supermarket chain.

Explaining the move, Bond said: "I have recently been looking at the roles and responsibilities of my executive team. One of the conclusions I have reached is that the clarity of our trading proposition should be the responsibility of one individual."

DELL: Former European sales director at Gateway SARAH SHIELDS (pictured right) has joined Dell's UK channel operation as it continues its expansion. She joins former Westcoast commercial director ANDY DOW who was announced as Dell's channel director back in November.

Shields is heading up the vendor's expanding retail operations as its EMEA retail sales director. She previously headed up Gateway's European sales operations prior to its purchase by Acer, where she had previously worked at as business manager.

TARGET: Former managing director of MVS Distribution MIKE SCRIVEN (pictured right), has joined Target Components as account manager. He joins the winner of PC Retail's Specialist Distributor with more than ten years experience in the channel.

Speaking about the appointment, Target's market development director Randall Pevin said: "Bringing Mike onboard is a real coup for us. Our entire account management function will benefit from his many years of sales and purchasing experience.

"Our loyal account base expects knowledgeable and experienced account managers and Mike brings that and much more," added Pevin.

CISCO: The networking vendor reshuffled its top UK management last month, with country manager DUNCAN MITCHELL (pictured right) leaving to take up a position in its Emerging Markets Theatre.

He is replaced with PHIL SMITH (pictured right), who is currently the firm's vice president of technology and corporate marketing.

There were also changes in the company's channel operation with UK and Ireland channels managing director JOHN DONOVAN (pictured right) moving to the firm's direct sales team to take over its UK Enterprise and Mid-Market operation.

BERNADETTE WIGHTMAN (pictured right) has replaced him in the role and will take over responsiblity for all aspects of the UK and Ireland Cisco channel.