Sometimes propositions just look too good to resist, and of course that is the very moment you should walk away.
There is no doubt Steve Kaufman brought dynamism to the distribution sector and without his astute stewardship of the company they wouldn't be where they are now.
But even Homer nods. And so it was in the mid to late 80s. Kaufman had already started regenerating Arrow and it boasted a fine portfolio of suppliers, including Intel. The numero uno chipmaker was much more heavily engaged in the industrial market as a very tasty player in the microcontroller and flash memory markets, and therefore a blue chip line.
It was also the time Korean semiconductor makers started to make an impact and when Samsung beached up at Arrow's Melville headquarters Kaufman and his team could not resist, and so an agreement was announced.
Cue outrage and indignation from Intel backed by the threat to can Arrow with immediate effect.
I bumped into Steve Kaufman at the Electronica show not long after this furore, and couldn't resist asking how the situation was resolved.
"Well," and by this time he could laugh about it, "first I apologised on bended knees to Intel and kept the line, then did the same thing with Samsung while asking to be released from the agreement"
Poor decison? Yes. Then again you have to concede he didn't make many.
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