Avnet Expands Executive Leadership Team to Drive Transformation and Accelerate Growth

11/15/2016

Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT) today announced the appointment of several key executives as the company transforms into a premier global electronics leader positioned to support customers at every stage of the product lifecycle. Avnet is creating a unique business model and differentiated offerings that will put the company at the forefront of the digital transformation, impacting the entire technology supply chain.

Three individuals have joined the Avnet Executive Board reporting to CEO William Amelio:

Peter Bartolotta has joined Avnet in the new role of chief transformation officer. He will oversee the transformational and operational aspects of Avnet’s business to enable growth, deliver superior customer experience, and optimize efficiency, productivity and cost. Bartolotta will be responsible for multiple teams, including those focused on: Digital Transformation, Emerging Business Development, Logistics, Enterprise Effectiveness, Global Procurement and the Program Management Office. Bartolotta has extensive P&L and operations experience in addition to expertise in supply chain management, engineering and quality. He most recently served as the CEO of Terra Point and MD Toxicology Group.
Therese Bassett has been promoted to the newly created role of chief strategy, innovation and M&A officer. She will work with Avnet’s internal business units to identify growth opportunities to enhance the company’s overall business portfolio, financial strength and global market value. Bassett has an impressive 23-year Avnet tenure, and she has held various roles including those related to export compliance, transportation, business development, marketing and strategic planning. Most recently, she served as a senior vice president for the human resources team focused on Avnet’s talent and organizational development.
Michael O’Neill joined the company as general counsel and chief legal officer. Before joining Avnet, O’Neill served as vice president and chief legal officer at Canadian Helicopter Corporation. His technology industry expertise includes serving as senior vice president and general counsel at Lenovo, plus a variety of legal roles including general counsel international and worldwide global contract management at Honeywell.

In addition, Kevin Sellers has been named chief marketing officer after joining Avnet one year ago as vice president of corporate marketing and communications. In his expanded role, Sellers is responsible for Avnet’s global marketing and communications function which includes brand strategy and management, as well as digital marketing, advertising, demand generation, social media and communications. Sellers is a technology industry veteran and spent 23 years at Intel where he held a variety of marketing leadership positions in the U.S. and abroad.

Commenting on these new appointments, Amelio said, “These are exciting times at Avnet. We are transforming our business to not only strengthen financial performance, but to also give us unprecedented capabilities at every stage of the product lifecycle—from idea generation to mass production. Each of these individuals brings decades of business experience and unique talents.” Amelio continued, “Now is the perfect time to align Avnet’s executive team with our long-term strategy to be the premier design and supply chain leader with the broadest portfolio of offerings.”

These executive appointments are the latest in a series of strategic decisions to transform Avnet’s business. Earlier this week, Avnet announced a majority interest in Hackster.io, an online community that helps users learn how to design, create and program Internet-connected hardware, supporting a network of 200,000 engineers, makers and hobbyists.

Recently Avnet acquired Premier Farnell, enabling the company to reach engineers earlier in the design cycle, which is where innovators and startups play an increasingly larger role in product development. Avnet also announced the divestiture of its Technology Solutions business to Tech Data, which will give the company a singular focus on the electronic components market when completed.

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About Avnet, Inc.

From components to cloud and design to disposal, Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT) accelerates the success of customers who build, sell and use technology globally by providing them with a comprehensive portfolio of innovative products, services and solutions. For more information, visit www.avnet.com.