Former Lenovo CEO takes over as top exec at Avnet

Bill Amelio, a fomrer CEO at Lenovo, is taking over as the top executive at data center hardware and software provider Avnet, effective immediately.

Amelio, who is a board member at Avnet, replaces Rick Hamada, who had been in the job for more than five years.

“I look forward to working with the management team and all of Avnet’s talented employees worldwide as we strive to achieve profitable growth for shareholders and operational excellence for customers while enhancing the company’s winning culture to the benefit of employees,” Amelio said in a statement.

Amerlio’s appointment is an “interim” one, the company said. However, Amelio will be considered as a permanent replacement.

Avnet is based in Phoenix. It recently disclosed plans to cut costs by some $25 million.

“The board believed that change in leadership was needed to accelerate the progress on Avnet’s growth, drive a greater sense of urgency and enhance our focus on execution,” a spokesperson for Avnet told Computer Reseller News.

Amerlio led Lenovo from 2005-2009 after heading Dell’s Pacific operations from 2001-2005. He was replaced at Lenovo by Yang Yuanqing as CEO in a major corporate shakeup.

Amelio joined the Avnet board in 2014. From 2010-2015 Amerlio was CO of an oil field services company called CHC Group. He also is a former IBm executive.

“The board felt that Amelio was highly qualified and the right appointment for the interim role,” the company spokeswoman told CRN. “[He] has extensive experience in the technology industry and deep understanding of the technology supply chain.”