Sources claim he is leaving after four years as part of a cost-cutting drive by the distributor
Tech Data Mobile UK and Ireland managing director Peter Hubbard is to leave the distributor.
Sources close to the firm said that Hubbard (pictured) was leaving the company as part of a cost-cutting drive. His departure follows that of vice president for services Richard Baxendale, who quit in late June.
Staff were told of his departure via e-mail earlier this week. The company has remained silent on the matter despite repeated Mobile News requests for comment.
A high profile source told Mobile News the decision was not related to the recent loss of the Tesco contract.
“It’s been a difficult year for Tech Data Mobile and the company has been undergoing an internal review and restructuring. As part of that restructure, they’ve decided to go in a different direction at management level, so Peter unfortunately for him, is not part of their plans.They needed a new leader.”
Hubbard joined Tech Data as sales director of its Computer 2000 division in 2011 before being promoted to managing director of Tech Data UK a year later. In February 2014, the company reshuffled its management that saw Hubbard move to head up its mobile division with Andy Gass taking responsibility for the overall business.
Hubbard’s replacement is rumoured to be former Phones 4u director of trading Matt Child. The executive, also a former sales director of 20:20 Mobile Group, is out of work after leaving his post as chief operating officer of Leeds United Football Club in March.
Our source added: “Matt would be an ideal choice and someone who has been linked with the company before. He has a very good reputation in the industry. He worked for Dextra (20:20 Mobile) on accessories and then went to Phones 4u and, despite what happened to the company, was doing a very good job. He would be a good choice for Tech Data Mobile.”
Another source added: “Part of what Tech Data is doing is to reduce costs and resources. Peter joined Tech Data as sales director and when Andy Gass was promoted to regional VP, Peter got promoted as MD. That was when the company went through the restatement and it was a difficult year for everyone there. During that period the UK business wasn’t as successful as they’d hoped, so Andy was demoted back to UK MD and it was case of what to do with Peter. Jim Michel had left and Steve Nolan was doing it temporarily, so he moved into the mobile role. Since then, things have been up and down and they’ve now decided to move on, now is the time for a change.”
