Digi-Key Expands Local Presence into the United Kingdom and Ireland

THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Global electronic components distributor Digi-Key Corporation, the industry leader in electronic component selection, availability and delivery, today announced its expanded presence into the United Kingdom and Ireland with a dedicated local sales and customer support resources to support a rapidly expanding customer base. Digi-Key also announced the opening of its European sales and support office in Munich, along with the appointment of three additional EMEA regional sales directors.

“Digi-Key’s immense success in North America is a benchmark for expansion into the European market”

“Our expanded European presence will support Digi-Key’s traditional customer base along with an increasing number of corporate buyers requiring higher-volume production orders,” said Kris Haggstrom, vice president of strategic customer development, EMEA and Asia Pacific, at Digi-Key. “We are pleased to announce the appointment of senior-level sales directors like Ian Wallace who will play a key role in Digi-Key’s global growth.”

Ian Wallace – Sales Director, United Kingdom and Ireland

Ian Wallace joined Digi-Key in May 2012 as sales director for the United Kingdom and Ireland, leading the company’s global expansion by supporting both new and existing customers and suppliers in these regions. Since Wallace’s appointment, the company’s local customer base grew significantly, contributing to over 41,000 customers in the EMEA region overall.

Wallace is responsible for building awareness around Digi-Key’s unique hybrid model for electronic component distribution, and delivering a new level of efficiency and growth with a focus on product breadth, availability and service. As part of Digi-Key’s expansion in the EMEA market, Wallace will lead business development initiatives around the company’s “Prototype-to-Production^®” model, supporting the needs of the engineer from product design to high-mix, low-volume production orders.

Wallace’s career spans 25 years in the electronics component industry, including sales leadership roles with Future Electronics, TDK, Panasonic, and 3M. In addition to holding several sales consultancy and business development roles, Wallace managed global accounts for Apple, Intel, HP, Fujitsu, Xerox, Sony, Toshiba, Hitachi, Ford, GM and Pioneer.

“Digi-Key’s immense success in North America is a benchmark for expansion into the European market,” Wallace said. “Our unique hybrid business model, coupled with local sales representatives, is an equation for success and I am excited to be part of the Digi-Key team.”

Additional EMEA Resources

Digi-Key also has a customer support center in the Netherlands with 31 agents who assist customers based within the EMEA region. In addition, the company has dedicated international resources working out of its headquarters in Thief River Falls, MN, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Digi-Key also maintains a customer support center in Israel with eight dedicated sales and customer service representatives.

About Digi-Key Corporation

Digi-Key Corporation, based in Thief River Falls, Minn., is a global, full-service provider of both prototype/design and production quantities of electronic components, offering more than two million products from over 650 quality name-brand manufacturers at www.digikey.com.

With over 800,000 products in stock, an impressive selection of online resources, and the logistical advantage of more than 800,000 square feet of expandable distribution space, Digi-Key continues to move forward, affirming its commitment to stocking the broadest range of electronic components in the industry and providing the best service possible to its customers.

Digi-Key’s totally integrated, Internet-engaged business model, coupled with its industry-leading breadth of components available for immediate shipment anywhere in the world from a single location, clearly differentiates Digi-Key from all other distributors. Digi-Key offers customers a unique approach to a high-mix, low volume production business strategy by transferring much inventory risk and carrying costs from the customer to Digi-Key. From Prototype to Production^®, Digi-Key has the components and resources necessary to grow your business to the next level.

The company’s online offerings and resources include: PTM^® product training modules; TechZone^SM technology zones; Digi-Key toolbar; and a Mobile and Social Center

Additional information and access to Digi-Key’s broad product offering is available at www.digikey.com.