Phil Presnall, General Manager of Sales and Marketing - Dicker Data New Zealand
Dicker Data has appointed Richard Harri to the role of Volume Business Unit Manager in New Zealand, utilising over 20 years of experience in distribution.
In this newly created role, the former Synnex New Zealand Country Manager joins the distributor from Lenovo, after establishing and growing the vendor’s consumer business across the country during the past 12 months.
Harri will assume full responsibility for all aspects of Dicker Data’s Volume business including strategy and sales, and will commence his role on July 1.
“Richard has significant experience and success over a long period in this sector of the New Zealand market and brings with him a wealth of knowledge around distribution,” Phil Presnall, General Manager of Sales and Marketing, Dicker Data New Zealand.
“We are looking forward to welcoming Richard to the team. Having worked almost 20 years in distribution, he holds relationships nationwide with all types of resellers and a large cross-section of vendors.”
When speaking to Reseller News, Presnall says the appointment of Harri to this newly created role reaffirms Dicker Data’s commitment to invest and grow its footprint in the Volume business segment.
“Richard is very complimentary to our current skill sets at Dicker Data,” he says. “This shows we are ready to invest in our Volume business because we certainly see the market opportunity in New Zealand.
“A big part of the market still remains untapped and we believe this appointment will strengthen our hand.”
Formerly Express Data, the company was acquired by Dicker Data in February 2014, with the deal completed in May 2015, leading to a merging of the Australian businesses.
But in previously having no presence in New Zealand, Presnall says the new-look Dicker Data is now building its Volume business from the ground up, tapping into Harri’s expertise at growing distribution businesses across the country.
Distribution experience
“I am looking forward to this new challenge and re-connecting with many customers and vendor partners,” adds Richard Harri, Volume Business Unit Manager, Dicker Data New Zealand.
“I believe the opportunity for Dicker Data to grow the volume business in New Zealand is significant. Working for a PC vendor for the past year has provided me with new insights and learnings that will enhance both the existing and potential future vendor partnerships Dicker Data possesses.”
Prior to his role at Lenovo, Harri was the founding Country Manager for Synnex New Zealand, a role he held for 10 years where he was responsible for building and executing the country strategy, resourcing, governance and business growth initiatives.
“I have worked in every area of distribution from buying to sales to management and have been exposed to many different situations,” says Harri, when speaking exclusively to Reseller News.
“I understand clearly that people do business with people and when customers or vendors do business with me I make it my business to do the right thing when the need arises.”
Having worked within the New Zealand reseller channel community during the past 20 years, Harri brings a contact base that spreads nationwide, from North to South Island.
“I have many friendships that I have formed with customers in all areas of the reseller market from national retailers to commercial resellers through to system integrators and am looking forward to working with them again,” he says.
“I enjoy the fast paced nature working in distribution operating in a multi-vendor environment and assisting both vendor partners and reseller customers to profitably grow their business.”
In the role of Volume Business Unit Manager, Harri will be responsible for growing the volume business through securing additional vendors that complement Dicker Data’s ongoing strategy, maximising both existing reseller relationships and exploring new reseller opportunities.
“The role also encompasses managing the Volume Product Management and Volume Sales Teams that report into the role,” he explains.
“Initially my number one goal is to observe and understand why things are done the way they are done. I am not looking to make any changes for the sake of change.
"Through working with the wider business I expect to deliver at least two key new vendor partners that will increase our relevance and provide a meaningful ecosystem to leverage our volume business in New Zealand.”
Harri says Dicker Data are known in the market for “their knowledge, accuracy and consistency” across all of the vendor brands which they represent in New Zealand, forming a key part of his decision-making process.
“The business traditionally has been focused around software and networking but there is a recent transition to focus on growing the device and volume business,” he says.
“My heritage is devices and volume and as such I see there is a good opportunity for me to be able to enhance the go-to-market strategy and add value.”
