The National Electronic Distributors Association (NEDA) held its annual executive conference last week and honoured two Avnet executives.
Roy Vallee, Avnet chairman and CEO was awarded the Gail S Carter Award, the highest honour NEDA can bestow, for his significant contributions to the distribution industry taking an active role in NEDA and civic affairs and being recognised as an industry leader. Ed Smith, senior vice president of sales for Avnet Electronics Marketing was recognised with the Association's Distibguished Service Award for significant contributions to the leadership and activities of NEDA.
It's a much deserved award for Vallee who has transformed Avnet into a truly international company. While Avnet's first overseas acquisition, Acccess Electronics of the UK, was made on previous CEO Leon Machiz's watch, it is Vallee who has led the charge in Europe and the Far East to establish Avnet at the top of the world rankings by revenue. And after one or two rocky starts, the integration of acquired companies into the Avnet family has become much smoother. And he has been sensitive and sensible enough to ensure established, strong brands such as EBV and Memec are preserved. These actions as well as his words lifted Avnet's profile in the broader electronics industry. Leon Machiz was an effective CEO who kept a lower profile. Vallee has weighed in wtih important observations on the industry as well as Avnet. Notably he has also encouraged a high degree of Avnet involvement in NEDA, an altruism not shared by all company CEOs.
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