This is the result of the company’s continued investments in expanding the scope of its global inventory portfolio, and further developments of its e-commerce capabilities. The business planned to add 250,000 new SKUs through FY22 and has so far delivered 63% of that total, with the existing global portfolio now approaching one million products. Additional investments in e-Commerce capabilities, new product introductions and continued support for the online engineering community were also key drivers of growth.

In e-Commerce, Farnell continues to strengthen its offering, with more than 72% of transactional orders placed online through the quarter, which represents Farnell’s historically best quarter with 56% of Farnell sales taking place online. This marks the company’s sixth consecutive quarter of online sales growth.

Rob Rospedzihowski, President Sales, EMEA, said: “We are pleased with these latest results which, following equally impressive results in Q2, is especially encouraging as we continue to demonstrate strong performance in FY22 to date.

“Online continues to be a major focus area for our business and play a key role in both our growth and improved customer offering, as we commit to delivering a vastly enhanced web experience. The result of this is that we now see over 70% of our sales and orders being placed through e-Commerce avenues, while we continue to differentiate our product offering through launching new supplier lines and expanding in core and new segments.”

Farnell’s expansive inventory remains a key priority for the Avnet group and was a critical driver of Avnet’s adjusted operating margin reaching 4.7% in the quarter, as well as Avnet’s gross margin rising from 12.2% to 12.5%.

The EMEA region achieved record quarterly results despite Farnell ending all business interests in Russia alongside the ongoing challenges relating to market uncertainty and increased lead times associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. This success was particularly driven by an increase in demand from the industrial, security and transportation industries

Rospedzihowski, commented: “Our global demand indicators remain strong. And while challenges remain in terms of backorder fulfilment, our ongoing success is a direct result of the resilience and commitment our employees have demonstrated; our customers who remain a delight to service; and our suppliers who have remained steadfast and responsive as we collectively look to deliver further successful operating results throughout the calendar year ahead and beyond.”

Read Avnet’s Third Quarter Fiscal 2023 Financial Results in full, and find out how Farnell is supporting customer journeys here.

In celebration of the International Day of Women in Engineering, 2020, a group of Farnell women leaders from across the globe joined a discussion about their experiences and journeys within the electronics industry, covering topics such as gender diversity in the workplace and the role of mentors. Looking over their careers, they identified the highlights and the challenges that came along with them.

Conversations highlighted the continued under-representation of women in the electronics industry. Many have seen a change in attitude over the course of their careers, but remembered times when being a woman in the industry meant constantly being subjected to stereotypes: “Throughout my career, there are times when I have been stereotyped as chief note-taker, found myself at social events mostly chatting about sport and feeling like an outsider. I was once told to stop being emotional whilst expressing myself during a debate over an issue”, said Sarah Fawcett, Global Program Manager, Single Board Computers.

A 2019 study entitled ‘Women in the Workplace’ by McKinsey and Company aimed to help companies improve diversity in the workplace. It stated that despite progress at senior levels, under-representation of women continues, and that a “broken rung” at the step to manager is a problem many women face on their journey to becoming leaders. Niki Taylor, Supplier Account Manager, IP&E Group, Newark, said: “There remains too few women at a decision-making level in this industry, and while we have a full pipeline of women leaders, it does level off before we see them enter into VP positions and higher. I think some of that has to do with a fear of giving up a work-life balance after going to the next level, and a lack of opportunity.” 

Increased gender balance and the diversity that comes with it brings a more effective range of skills to the table. Carrie Rubin, Senior Product Manager, US explains that this is “diversity of ideas”. Jade Gallagher, Senior Supplier Account Manager, IP&E adds: “There are so many studies out there proving how beneficial this is to business, to the economy. For me it’s innovation in problem solving. Having a gender equal team – let me widen to equal team – can highlight our differences in approaching a matter to adapt a more blended way forward, solving an issue in a manner you may not have originally thought.” But this also requires gender equality – Dianne Kibbey, Global Head of Community & Social Media, explained: “It means equal access to opportunities regardless of gender. This would include equal pay, equal participation and equal chances for decision making.” Technical Support Engineer, India, Priyanka Samal added: “Gender equality should be there as it’s a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. Everyone should be given equal value in every field.”

The discussion indicated that the electronics industry needs to consider diverse points of view across all aspects of the business to improve performance. Carrie Rubin said this is already happening in some areas, and she is seeing the benefit: “I feel very respected as a woman, and strides are being taken to increase women’s presence and prominence in the industry with groups like Women in Electronics.” Sarah Fawcett agreed: “There are some fantastic women leaders in this industry. I feel that we are changing it from the inside and creating better opportunities for the each cohort of women who join. Farnell has been really supportive, providing opportunities for me to keep stretching myself and keep moving forward.” Jade Gallagher also noted, “The more inclusive we are, removing barriers and judgement, the more we can create a better world. Our world view is greater than the small bubble that we’re comfortable with.”

It was clear that those in the discussion felt diversity is good for business and that industries across the globe are recognizing the importance of viewing their challenges through a woman’s lens. Diversity introduces a more rounded set of skills in the boardroom, and then at every level within the organization and greater diversity leads to more diverse and equitable decision making. Farnell’s group felt that women leaders are increasing their influence despite the continued gender gap.  Global Senior Supplier Account Manager, UK, Vicky Hough dived into her own experience at Farnell: “In my role, I often have to meet and present to predominately male rooms. It can be an intimidating environment if you are only one of a few, or indeed the only woman there. However, the majority of my experience is that individuals are respectful and doing my job well is the only factor.”

One key challenge that was highlighted in the conversations was the conflicting demands of parenthood and career. Madeleine Alvarado, Regional Sales Manager, Australia & New Zealand, commented on how challenges have changed at different stages of her career: “When I first started out, it was the perception that I was not technically as capable as men. I don’t think that perception really persists anymore. Another challenge is being a mother – it is not easy to work part-time in this industry, to accommodate parenting obligations.”

Achieving work-life balance can be easier said than done, but Senior Global Supplier Account Manager, Semiconductor, Ibtissame Krumm, remained optimistic: “Yes, you can have a career and a family just like a man does. Just be efficient and focus. It may be challenging and uncomfortable at times but it is all possible and Farnell is the right company to support that!”

Family was a topic which resonated across the group.  Noelle Tiong, Account Development Specialist, Sales, Malaysia explained her experience and that of many other women around her: “Career development is mostly for men, as the perception for women remains to focus more on family and children.” And while the world was in degrees of lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic the challenge of being a working mother was particularly pertinent for the group . Holly Smart, Global Head of PR and External communications, said: “I find myself comparing myself to those parents who aren’t working and are able to support their children’s education, and those workers who don’t have children and are focused on work. It’s a constant challenge – but one that I’ve gotten used to! Being a mum, and doing my job are both full time commitments.”

Nevertheless, the feeling from the group was that meeting your expectations at work and home brings immense satisfaction, and builds a deep-rooted confidence in oneself. Sarah Fawcett, is particularly proud of her achievements, especially one which followed soon after returning from maternity leave. “I delivered a £2M project and secured a promotion within nine months of coming back from maternity leave with my second child.”  Flexibility is also a favourable factor in improving the quality of job experience for women in tech, as Carrie Rubin explained: “Farnell has been a great company to work for. I appreciate the flexibility and work/life balance, and it’s clear that the leadership really appreciates its people, especially given the current environment.” 

The topic of family also resonated strongly in a different way. Shirley Shi, Beijing Branch Manager, Sales and Sharmaine Cho, Senior Marketing Executive, Singapore, spoke of Farnell being an ‘extended family’. Sharmaine emphasized the tremendous impact the people of Farnell have had on her career: “Fortunately, I have met great colleagues over my last four years, and each and every one of them has helped me to learn on the job. Everyone that I’ve worked with has been helpful, kind and understanding, and that’s really what makes my Farnell journey enjoyable.”  

The women also unanimously agreed upon the role of mentorship in moving their careers forward, advising young women to seek out industry mentors who can help them to realise their true potential. Ibtissame Krumm shared how a mentor helped her to gain the respect of her peers, encouraging her to be factual about the work she produced, and acknowledge her achievements in front of others. Shilpi Gupta, Product Operations Manager, India, added: “Mentors definitely help us realise our true potential, they are the guiding force behind us. However I also truly believe that until we propel ourselves to challenges, nobody can actually help us. When we garner the strength to confront challenges and difficulties it strengthens our will, confidence and ability to conquer future impediments and obstacles.” 

Groups such as the RISE Women’s Forum run by Farnell’s parent company, Avnet, aim to empower women, increase inclusion in the organization, and reduce unconscious bias by raising awareness with employees. Niki Taylor is a member of the Newark chapter of RISE and said groups like these play an important role in giving life to gender-related topics and issues, as well as supporting women: “Working with the women in the industry through groups like RISE at Newark and Avnet, as well as the industry-wide Women in Electronics has been a career highlight.”

The group also shared what they enjoyed most about their jobs, explaining that a career in engineering and electronics can be rewarding and fulfilling. Shilpi Gupta, Product Operations Manager, India, explained that “the opportunity to work on diverse projects is what excites me the most”, stating that while her efforts benefit the company, she also gets to hone her skills and evolve professionally. Speaking about the fact that she has the opportunity to learn about new technology before anyone else does, Niki Taylor, shared: “I love getting a preview on what’s coming next in technology and seeing that come to life with our suppliers and our customers.  It’s great to get a front row seat to the ever-changing ways technology influences our lives.”  Jade Gallagher added:  “I love the pace of the industry. One moment you could be working on a launch that’s taken months of meticulous planning, the next you could be working with customers to support a bespoke design that they need urgently. Variety and innovation.”  Ibtissame Krumm s explained what she felt the electronics industry has to offer her as an aspiring leader: “We are at the forefront of developing new technologies like IoT, wireless charging, healthcare, robotics, consumables and transportation, and these things are changing the world around us.”

Looking to the future for talented women who aspire to join engineering, electronics and STEM industries in general, the advice from the Farnell women was to keep sharpening their skill sets. They should stand their ground in the workplace, and find the right mentor at an early stage of their career. But most of all, as explained by Jade Gallagher: “Believe in yourself. Things are changing and you will bring that change for generations to come.”

To mark International Women in Engineering Day 2020, Farnell, a global multi-channel distributor of electronic components and an Avnet company, talked to women across its global operations to celebrate their achievements within the industry and discuss key topics such as gender diversity in the workplace. 14 women leaders working within Farnell joined the discussion from different parts of the world. The aim of the collaboration was to bring forward their shared experiences, journeys and challenges to help aspiring women who want to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) within their career.

Conversations highlighted steps taken to increase women’s presence and prominence in the industry and progress made, but nevertheless, the group concluded that women still continue to remain underrepresented. The women discussed these changing scenarios, how to make strides to close the gender gap and how to fuel the next generation of female innovators. During the discussion, the group shared some tips for the budding women engineers who aspire to work in the electronics industry.

Here are few tips shared by them:

• Gain as much knowledge as you can about new developments, new technology and industry changes - it is imperative to understand the core of the business to make a difference in what we do.
• Believe in yourself - women sometimes underestimate themselves and therefore hold back on taking up new challenges that can help them achieve their maximum potential. The goal should be to continue learning and evolve personally and professionally.
• Get comfortable with feeling uncomfortable - many times, you may find yourself in situations where you think you can’t do something, but the truth is that you really can. It’s okay to feel uncomfortable and try things you’ve never done before, because it might turn out that you excel at it.
• Don’t be held back by stereotypes - if it’s something you’re passionate about, stick to that path even if there are challenges. It’s a matter of time, effort, and attitude.
• Get a mentor who can act as a guiding force in your career and help you realise your true potential. Mentors can come in various forms – one could help you understand your own strengths and weaknesses and another mentor could help you build a network within the organisation.

Chris Breslin, President at Farnell, said: “Diversity helps create more robust and flexible workplaces and it’s important that more women have the opportunity to innovate. Overlooking women in the workforce is a loss of talent. We must always strive to lift each other up and promote equality and respect everywhere.”

The discussion also provided insights to help improve diversity and increase female representation in the industry, such as giving girls enough role models to encourage them to join STEM. To find out more about Farnell’s female panel and read their full conversation, please visit the news blog. 

Farnell, the Development Distributor, is the leading manufacturer and distributor of the Raspberry Pi single-board computer (SBC), which it has sold to electronic design engineers, educators, hobbyists and makers since its launch in 2012. Farnell’s sales alone, which are supported by its holistic offering including a diverse ecosystem of accessories and support through its element14 Community, have now reached the remarkable total of 15 million devices worldwide

Raspberry Pi’s most recent launch, the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B computer, has driven a significant increase in sales. This new board is the most powerful Raspberry Pi to date: three times faster than the previous model with a range of memory options and improved interfacing and connectivity to extend capabilities for all users. Raspberry Pi 4 can be used as a high-performance embedded platform, or as a full-featured desktop computer.

Farnell stocks all Raspberry Pi models, alongside its diverse ecosystem of accessories, which supports users as they build devices for home, education or commercial applications. Farnell has championed Raspberry Pi through its element14 Community, creating a forum for its 650,000 members to access informative and educational threads, be inspired by fellow members’ ideas, and get involved in Raspberry Pi-based design challenges.

Farnell also supports customers as they bring products to market with its maker-to-market service, programmes for startups, 24/7 technical support and an exclusive agreement with Raspberry Pi (Trading) for the customisation of Raspberry Pi products. Customers supported by Farnell include French startup Airnodes, who developed a smart mirror which can now be seen in hotels across France, and Futurehome, based in Norway who developed an app-based home automation system using a Raspberry Pi-based platform customised by Farnell.

Key facts about Farnell and Raspberry Pi:

• Farnell is the largest global manufacturer and distributor of Raspberry Pi and has sold 15 million Raspberry Pi boards sold to date.
• Insight from Farnell’s Raspberry Pi User survey shows just how varied the use of the SBC is; 33% of respondents use Raspberry Pi for personal projects, 33% for proof-of-concept and prototyping, and the final third of respondents use Raspberry Pi in informal or formal education. The combination of price, performance and ease of use make the Raspberry Pi the SBC of choice for many. Farnell’s research also highlighted the increasing use of Raspberry Pi products by professional engineers in IoT, industrial automation and control applications.
• Farnell’s parent company, Avnet, is using its experience and expertise to develop devices such as the Avnet Smartedge Industrial IoT Gateway, powered by Raspberry Pi, to help customers scale their prototypes and bring products to market.

Lee Turner, Global Head of Semiconductors and Single Board Computers for Farnell says: “Farnell is Raspberry Pi’s leading global distribution partner, selling 15 million devices since launch in 2012. This is a major milestone for Farnell as well as the Raspberry Pi Foundation and we are delighted to have shared the journey with them so far. The new Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Computer is a gamechanger, providing customers with a faster, more powerful and more feature-rich single board computer than ever before. The power of the Raspberry Pi 4, Farnell’s extensive distribution network, and the strength of Farnell’s parent company, Avnet, in developing devices such as the Avnet Smartedge Industrial IoT Gateway, powered by Raspberry Pi, can only pave the way for more great things from this little board.”

Eben Upton, CEO of Raspberry Pi (Trading), says: “We have been working with Farnell since 2012 to put Raspberry Pi products in the hands of hobbyists, educators and professional design engineers all over the world. In 2015, we announced an exclusive agreement to provide customized variants of our products to Farnell’s engineering customer base, and in June this year we launched Raspberry Pi 4 Model B together, bringing PC-equivalent performance to the sub-$50 price bracket. We are extremely excited that Farnell have crossed the 15-million-unit mark; we look forward to shipping many more units together, and continuing to change lives all over the world.”

Raspberry Pi computers and accessories are available from Farnell in EMEA, Newark in North America and element14 in APAC.

Farnell, the Development Distributor, has strengthened its product organisation with appointments into two key roles on its Leadership Team. Lee Turner has been appointed as Global Head of Semiconductors & Single Board Computers and Simon Meadmore appointed as Global Head of IP&E (Inter-connect, Passives and Electro-mechanical). Both Lee and Simon will report to Chris Breslin, President of Farnell’s global businesses. Farnell operates as Newark in North America and element14 in APAC.

Lee joined Farnell in 2016 as Global Head of Operations – Sales, Marketing & Technical. As Global Head of Semiconductors & SBC, Lee is responsible for ensuring that customers and manufacturers continue to view Farnell as their global distributor of choice and the provider of cutting edge Semiconductor and SBC technologies. Lee has 25 years’ experience in the electronics industry and has held prior leadership roles in supplier development, product marketing and sales.

Simon has been with Farnell for 15 years and moves to the role of Global Head of IP&E having previously led  Farnell’s Semiconductor & SBC product segment. In his new role, Simon is responsible for leading the global product and supplier strategy for this important category. Simon has extensive experience in supplier facing roles at Farnell and previously at Pace Micro Technology. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS).

Celebrating its 10^th anniversary this summer, element14 was the first online community launched specifically for engineers and is one of the longest running networks of its kind in the electronics industry. A discussion-based community, element14 connects engineers across the globe to solve each other’s technical and design challenges. Members also have unique opportunities to road test new products and access the Design Center, a comprehensive resource that brings together the latest development tools, technical information from suppliers, community discussions, webinars, online courses, live support and regular hands-on design challenges to experience new technologies.

“During the past 10 years, we’ve cultivated a lasting, active and valuable community for engineers and entrepreneurs,” said Dianne Kibbey, Global Head of Community and Social Media for element14. “Today, with more than 650,000 members, element14 is thriving in an environment where statistics show that only 1 in 10 communities make it beyond their first three years. We’ve grown the community by staying focused on our members, and collaborating with them to provide the resources and programs they need to increase their knowledge of new technology and bring their projects to life.”

Recently, Avnet announced it is giving away 20,000 free Azure Sphere starter kits to help developers create highly secure, end-to-end IoT solutions. The initiative is part of Avnet’s ongoing partnership with Microsoft’s Azure Sphere Ecosystem and supported by design challenges on both element14 and Hackster.io, with prizes valued at $70,000 USD including:

• element14 members who get their Azure kit online and send data for 15 consecutive days before August 30, 2019, get the chance to win one of 50 $200 USD gift cards.

• The element14 ‘Sensing the World’ design challenge gives members freedom to develop an IoT device that demonstrates the vast potential of Azure Sphere. Participants have the opportunity to win 3 Grand Prize bundles of Microsoft gear worth $3,500 USD each, and 10 runner-up bundles worth $1,500 USD each. The bundle can include Surface laptops or tablets, Xbox gaming systems, HoloLens VR gear, and more. Within their challenge design, participants can utilize their choice of peripherals, complementing the on-board connectivity, sensors and expansion possibilities, as well as choose their own application. Submitted projects will be judged on ingenuity and how well they achieve their stated purpose. For more information go to https://www.element14.com/community/docs/DOC-92683/l/sensing-the-world-challenge

Dianne added; “element14 members have the opportunity to win some incredible prizes, and we are looking forward to seeing the breadth and creativity that we have learned to expect from them as they develop IOT based applications connecting the Avnet Azure Sphere kit to the cloud. Whether you get involved, or follow our member’s blogs as they develop their projects – this is going to be an amazing summer.”

The “Sensing the World challenge” closes for entries on September 30, 2019. To find out more about the Avnet Microsoft Azure giveaway, element14 community and Hackster.io challenges visit https://secureeverything.avnet.com/

Farnell, the Development Distributor, has appointed Weidi Zhu to the role of Business President of element14, its distribution business in APAC. Weidi’s promotion follows the appointment of Uma Pingali to the role of Business President of Newark, Farnell’s Americas based business. Weidi will report to Chris Breslin, President of Farnell’s global businesses.

Weidi has been with Farnell for ten years, and most recently held the role of Regional Director of Sales for Greater China, responsible for promoting business growth in Greater China region. He has a deep business understanding in Greater China and North Asia market and over 20 years’ experience in the technology industry both in Greater China and across Asia Pacific.

Chris Breslin, President of Farnell’s global businesses said: “I am delighted to promote Weidi to the position of Business President of our APAC business. During the last ten years, Weidi has demonstrated his ability to lead businesses; having joined as General Manager for Southern Greater China he was quickly promoted to manage all of the China region, then Regional Sales Director for Greater China. I am confident that his focus, leadership and drive to deliver results will help him as he now expands is focus to our Asia Pacific region, and the continued growth of our element14 business.”

Premier Farnell, the Development Distributor, has appointed Umasankar Pingali to the role of Business President of Newark, its distribution business in the Americas. Uma will continue to report to Chris Breslin, President of Premier Farnell.

Uma joined Premier Farnell in 2011 and became Regional Business President of Premier Farnell’s APAC business, element14, in 2015. Uma was selected to lead the Newark business based on the strong performance delivered by the APAC business under his leadership and extensive industry experience, gained over 30 years spanning senior roles in organizations such as Future and Intersil.

Chris Breslin, President of Premier Farnell said: “I am delighted that Uma will be bringing his skills and experience to our Americas business. Uma has demonstrated the value that he adds to Premier Farnell, year after year. As Regional Business President of APAC, Uma has led a talented team to consistently deliver profitable growth in the region. I am confident that Uma’s focus and leadership will help Newark grow further in the year ahead.”

In his new role, Uma will focus on driving profitable growth in the Americas by maximizing the potential of Newark’s successful multi-channel sales model and customer value proposition.

Farnell element14 and Newark element14 have announced changes to their brands, effective from 1^st March 2019. As we bring the businesses closer together, for the benefit of customers, Farnell element14 changes its name to Farnell, An Avnet Company and Newark element14 changes its name to Newark, An Avnet Company. Customers have known the businesses as Farnell and Newark since they were established in the 1930s, and this change of name recognises its strong relationship with its customers and its role as a key element of the Avnet eco-system. By bringing the businesses together with the Avnet brand we want to show that working with Farnell and Newark is also working with Avnet, and demonstrate the value that we can add as one company.

Farnell and Newark became part of Avnet when parent company Premier Farnell was acquired in 2016. Brands within Avnet’s overall ecosystem are now being brought together to provide a simple and cohesive proposition for both customers and suppliers. Through a number of strategic acquisitions, Avnet has grown its capabilities to enable product makers, both large and small, manage the entire product lifecycle – from idea to global distribution – more successfully than ever before. Avnet now has the capabilities to support every stage of the product lifecycle and is the first distributor to offer true end-to-end solutions in-house that take an idea from prototype through to mass production.

Customers no longer have to identify, review and onboard a new partner at every phase of their product production and by working with Farnell in Europe or Newark in North America, and Avnet together, can have one partner throughout their product development cycle. This saves customer time and money, and provides support through the complex phases of product development.

Farnell and Newark were first established in the 1930s as AC Farnell Limited and Newark Electronics, and joined together in 1996, to become Premier Farnell. The combined business was one of the first distribution companies to offer eprocurement capabilities to customers and first to launch an online community, element14, for engineers, which now brings together over 600,000 like-minded members to create new and exciting electronics designs, and then share their process so others can learn from them. The businesses were rebranded Farnell element14 and Newark element14 in 2008 and became part of the Avnet business in 2016 following the acquisition of parent company Premier Farnell.

Since early days in the 1930s, both businesses had a simple mission to help customers get the parts they need, when they need them. Today, this mission remains true with hundreds of thousands of customers relying on the business to get them the parts they need every year.

Premier Farnell, the Development Distributor, has published new research on the Internet of Things which confirms that hardware platforms have become an essential part of the early stage design process, enabling engineers to test their designs quickly and cost-effectively; and rapidly deliver proof of concept.

Survey result clearly shows design engineers using a range of hardware platforms to accelerate development pace and shorten time to the market. Results show 50% of developers use single board computers such as the Raspberry Pi or BeagleBone Black as they provide ready-to-use embedded development platforms for building end-products. Other developers advised that they used their own design platforms (27%) or development platforms provided by the silicon vendors (19%).

Respondents to the survey, undertaken by Premier Farnell in late 2018, also advised that they prefer to design a complete solution for edge-to-cloud-security themselves (58%), rather than relying on third-party providers. Security continues to be top on the list of developer considerations (52%). Developers understand the critical importance of choosing an IoT platform that efficiently, securely, and economically supports their IoT applications, rather than relying on external parties which can sometimes cost more to run and maintain.

Cliff Ortmeyer, Global Head of Solutions Development for Premier Farnell said: “Opportunities within the Internet of Things have grown as developers gain greater access to hardware and software solutions that allow them to bring products to market quickly. Premier Farnell provides access to an extensive range of development tools for IoT, and works with innovative providers to bring the latest for AI and security, including the SmartEdge Agile, adding intelligence at the edge with zero-code, to the Zymbit ZYMKEY 4i security module for plug-in security in connected devices.”

The need for common standards and policies was also highlighted as key to accelerating the benefits of IoT. Interoperability (certified standards), connectivity standards, open standards and common privacy policies were all high on the list of developer wishes.

Research also suggested that opportunities within the Internet of Things will continue to grow. Key application areas expected to grow in the next five years include home automation, industrial automation & control and Artificial intelligence. The greatest perceived opportunity for benefits is seen in professional and industrial applications, with operational applications, including opportunities to collate data across entire operations to optimising workplace resources, reducing costs and driving business profitability.

The research was conducted between September and November 2018 with 1042 respondents across Europe, Americas and APAC. Full results of the survey, with additional insights on programming language use, communication method type, hardware components, cloud service providers and sensor technology are available to view at https://uk.farnell.com/global-iot-survey-2018.

Premier Farnell, the Development Distributor, delivered growth in the second quarter of fiscal year FY19 (three months ended 31 December 2018) with global revenue of $368.3m, up +2.8% year over year (+5.2% year over year on a constant currency basis). The growth rate was affected by softness in single board computing sales. Operating income continued to grow strongly, up 19% year over year.

Performance in Asia Pacific was strong, whilst Europe and North America delivered good levels of sales growth. Continued investment in inventory helped support customers through allocation and shortages in the market. Growth continued to be supported by impressive sales growth in Passives and a continued good performance in Test and Tools.

In preparation for the United Kingdom leaving the European Union on 29 March 2019, Premier Farnell has been investing in stock and warehouse infrastructure outside of the United Kingdom, to ensure that it is ready to respond to potential outcomes, and can support customers as they work to bring their products to market through changing times.

Chris Breslin, President of Premier Farnell said: “We help our customers bring their products to market by providing a strong portfolio of supplier products and innovative technologies. During the quarter we have continued to invest in stock and added further new suppliers to our linecard including Tronics, Pulse, Kiktronik, and Taoglas.”

During the quarter, Premier Farnell’s new 360,000 sq foot distribution warehouse in Leeds, United Kingdom, reached a key milestone with external build complete. Due to be operational in early 2020, the new warehouse will become the largest distribution centre in the Premier Farnell group and a hub for future growth.

Breslin added: “As we take our place within the Avnet ecosystem, this increased distribution capacity coupled with the latest technology means our customers can continue to rely on us to deliver products when they need them.”

Premier Farnell operates as Farnell element14 in Europe, Newark element14 in North America and element14 in Asia Pacific.

Premier Farnell, the Development Distributor, delivered a strong trading performance in the fiscal year FY19 first quarter ended 30 September 2018 with global revenue of $379m, up +7.2% year over year (+8.2% year over year on a constant currency basis).

Premier Farnell made significant investment across all categories in the prior fiscal year which both broadened and deepened Premier Farnell’s stocking position, and enabled it to support customers through high demand due to an evolving market. During the first quarter this investment underpinned strong growth in core interconnect, electro-mechanical and semiconductor categories alongside excellent growth in passives and single board computing.

In the Test and Tool category, where Premier Farnell has the strongest portfolio in the high service distribution market, the business also delivered an impressive level of growth, with strength particularly within tools and production supplies supported by recent new supplier additions such as Klein Tools.

Chris Breslin, President of Premier Farnell said: “We continue to focus on delivering a strong portfolio of supplier products and new innovative technologies to our customers, coupled with multi-channel support to meet our customers’ needs so they can focus on what is important to them.”

“Last quarter we have added new suppliers to our linecard and extended existing franchises to provide broader access to the latest new product introductions, supporting our customers as demand in the market outweighs supply so that they can keep production lines operating. In education, we continue to work closely with The Micro:bit Foundation to provide children across the globe with access to tools that will prepare them for the digital economy. Also during the quarter, a further educational programme using Micro:bit was launched in Denmark, bringing the number of Micro:bit used in education programmes to an impressive two million.”

Premier Farnell signed global agreements with 5 new suppliers during the first quarter, including: Adesto, IDEC, Purrmetrix and MakerGear.

Premier Farnell operates as Farnell element14 in Europe, Newark element14 in North America and element14 in Asia Pacific.

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to uncertainty, changes in facts and circumstances and other risks which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. More detailed information about these and other factors is set forth in filings by Avnet, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Avnet’s reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. Except as required by law, there is no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Premier Farnell, the Development Distributor, has announced a third year of sponsorship of Startupbootcamp | IoT. This year’s Startupbootcamp IoT has a focus on high-impact startups in Industrial IoT and areas such as manufacturing, infrastructure, energy, education, the environment, health, agriculture and retail. This year, as the IoT market matures and opportunities for IIoT emerge, more than 90% of applications for the programme came from startups working on B2B IoT solutions, an increase from 70% in 2017 and just 24% in 2016.

Eight startups have now been chosen from over 300 applicants in 51 countries to develop Internet of Things (IoT) solutions that tackle problems in diverse and impactful applications from smart packaging and smart suits, to health sports wearables and building management systems.

Hari Kalyanaraman, Global Head of Emerging Businesses at Premier Farnell and a mentor at Startupbootcamp said: "Premier Farnell is thrilled to partner with Startupbootcamp for a third consecutive year. As the Development Distributor we work with startups through every phase of product and market development; Startupbootcamp is a perfect fit with our culture of innovation and ability to bring ideas to life. The 2018 cohort is developing IoT applications to tackle real world problems in health care, facilities management, asset tracking and packaging among others. I look forward to working with this year's cohort and am keen to see their progress throughout the program."

Program CEO & Founder, Raph Crouan, said: “2018 was a year of consolidation for the IoT market and we’ve seen a solidification of the trends emerging in 2017 with a lot more importance given to solutions with a real impactful application, in particular when applied to developing regions of the world. Here at Startupbootcamp IoT we’re aiming to make the journey of building those solutions clearer, shorter, and more successful for entrepreneurs.”

The eight startups chosen to join the program were chosen following an intense three-day selection process that included expert workshops, pitches to program partners such as Cisco, Rolls-Royce, Inmarsat, Premier Farnell and DLL and extensive mentor feedback sessions.

The 2018 Startupbootcamp IoT cohort includes:

1. Amicoeur (Croatia) — a digital stethoscope and ECG with built-in biometric authentication for professional athletes.
2. Mechion (UK) — an autonomous patient observation system which monitors behaviours, emotional states, physical activity, and produces reports over long periods of time.
3. ORB Innovations (UK) — wearable technology for sports professionals used to detect head injuries and alert those pitch-side.
4. PIN IoT (UK) — PiN IoT leverages new cellular networks to deliver tracking solutions for mobile industrial assets - containers, skips, bins, plant and tools - at a fraction of the cost of traditional GPS.
5. Qbots Energy (UK) — an industrial IoT device that communicates with the Building Management System and uses sensors / AI to collect temperature, humidity, CO2 levels and occupancy data through LPWAN networks, allowing new revenue streams and energy savings.
6. Ragnarok 2.0 (Estonia) — a smart suit capable of tracking, fall detection and vital signs monitoring for workers and supervisors exposed to high-risk working environments
7. SweepTEQ (UAE) — a smart autonomous rover with AI cameras designed to detect and collect debris on airport runways.
8. Vesta Smart Packaging (UK) — new environmentally friendly smart packaging that records how full it is and orders refill.

The 3-month programme is delivered through workshops, one-to-one sessions and events, and each startup is able to call upon daily support from the Startupbootcamp team in areas including business development, finance and marketing.

For more information visit: https://www.startupbootcamp.org/

Premier Farnell, delivered an exceptional FY18¹ trading performance with global revenue of $1.5bn, up +11.1% year over year (+6.5% year over year on a constant currency basis). The company delivered consecutive year on year growth each quarter at a global and regional level (EMEA, North America & Asia-Pacific) and exited the year with Q4 sales growth of 13% year over year.

Alongside this strong sales performance, gross margin remained stable across FY18 and the ongoing realisation of acquisition synergies benefitted operating expenses, delivering a significant increase in operating income year over year since the date of acquisition by Avnet.

Premier Farnell’s strong financial performance was supported by ongoing investment in the business to support customers. Premier Farnell invested $100m in additional inventory during the year and added 22 new suppliers, adding depth and breadth of product offering and providing customers with even greater access to the latest new product introductions and established product offerings.

Most recent suppliers added to Premier Farnell’s supplier network include IDEC and Klein Tools, building on the addition of Xilinx, Nordic Semiconductor and Arduino earlier in the year. Inventory investment crossed the entire range of product categories from Semiconductors, Interconnect, Passives, Electro-mechanical and Single Board Computing; to Test and Tools where Premier Farnell leads the market for high service distribution.

Chris Breslin, President of Premier Farnell said: “This is a significant result. We have built real momentum, delivering growth every quarter, in every region, and 13% year over year growth globally during the fourth quarter. As the Development Distributor, it is our aim to be there when it matters, helping customers develop their products and businesses, and supporting the development of the next generation of engineers. The significant investment we have made in the business during this year – both in inventory and the development of new relationships with supplier partners, has supported this result. The ongoing take-up of the BBC Micro:bit as an education tool has also continued and we have supported new programmes in Canada and Croatia. As we look forward, we are extremely positive about the opportunities for the business.”

During the year Premier Farnell also announced a major investment in new warehousing capabilities in Leeds, United Kingdom, which will be the largest ever warehouse development in the Leeds City region. The distribution centre is scheduled to be fully operational by late 2019/early 2020, when it will supply Premier Farnell’s network of eight other warehouses across the globe including Gaffney in North America. This state-of-the-art new facility will enable the business to develop core value-adding services for customers right from its warehouse operations.

Premier Farnell operates as Farnell element14 in Europe, Newark element14 in North America and element14 in Asia Pacific.

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to uncertainty, changes in facts and circumstances and other risks which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. More detailed information about these and other factors is set forth in filings by Avnet, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Avnet’s reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. Except as required by law, there is no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Notes to editors

¹ fiscal year ending July 1, 2018

Construction work commenced on the high-quality 361,000 sq ft distribution unit at Muse Developments’ flagship Logic Leeds site on 29 March. The distribution centre project, which will be the largest ever warehouse development in Leeds, is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. The main contractor is Derbyshire-based Bowmer and Kirkland and the site is expected to be fully operational by late 2019/early 2020.

At the heart of the fully integrated solution to be provided by SSI Schaefer is the highly efficient Navette Matrix System, which operates alongside vertical lift storage machines and conveyors backed up by conventional shelving and pallet storage. All elements of the solution will be controlled by SSI Schaefer’s WAMAS warehouse management system and processes have been designed to consider the nature of the product and the current regulations governing its handling and storage.

Nick Wilkins, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Premier Farnell said, “This contract with SSI Schaefer is a key milestone in the delivery of a modern warehouse for the Premier Farnell group, positioning the business for future growth. Our success is based on fulfilling market leading delivery promises. In partnering with SSI Schaefer we will continue to provide that service, supply our network of eight other warehouses across the globe, and develop core value-adding services for our customers right from our warehouse operations. We are very pleased to be working with SSI Schaefer.”

SSI Schaefer’s Managing Director, Jaap Vos stated, “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Premier Farnell. Delivering an advanced system to enhance and support their operation creates the opportunity to continue to develop solutions ahead of anticipated future requirements.”

To find out more click here. 

Premier Farnell, the Development Distributor, announce a change in leadership as Graham McBeth retires from his position as President of Premier Farnell. Parent company, Avnet, introduced Chris Breslin, currently senior vice president for global products at Premier Farnell as McBeth’s replacement at its Investor Day event in New York City held on Thursday 14^th June. Breslin will report to Pete Bartolotta, chief transformation officer at Avnet, as he leads the Premier Farnell business and continues to drive synergies with the Avnet organisation.

McBeth took the helm at Premier Farnell when the business was acquired by Avnet in 2016 and has delivered double-digit growth and profitability under his leadership.

Pete Bartolotta, Chief Transformation Officer for Avnet, said of Graham McBeth’s retirement: “Graham’s ability to lead an organization and get the very best out of his team shows, as the business results speak for themselves. Graham—thank you for the contributions you have made during your time at Avnet.”

Bartolotta added, on Chris Breslin’s appointment “As Avnet and Premier Farnell continue to deliver on Avnet’s end-to-end ecosystem strategy, the strength of our senior leadership team remains one of our greatest assets, as evident by Chris’ appointment to lead Premier Farnell. He brings the experience, knowledge of the business and leadership style that will help Premier Farnell continue to grow.”

Breslin joined Premier Farnell in July of 2014 as chief product officer, and during his tenure, globalized Premier Farnell’s asset and product organization and greatly improved the company’s customer proposition by adding several dozen new suppliers.

Prior to Premier Farnell, Breslin spent five years as the chief operating officer for Crescent Electric Supply Company, one of the largest electrical wholesalers in North America. He was responsible for the company’s $1B P&L, and grew their operating profit significantly in a span of three years. Breslin has more than 14 years in the industry in various management positions.

Breslin will assume the new position immediately and McBeth will stay with Premier Farnell until the end of July, allowing time for a thorough handover between the leaders.

Avnet remain committed to protecting the Premier Farnell brand and sales model which continues to deliver value for shareholders and customers. Premier Farnell operates as Farnell element14 in EMEA, Newark element14 in North America and element14 in Asia Pacific.

Premier Farnell, the Development Distributor, has announced a substantial investment in product inventory as well as the addition of a number of new suppliers to its product offering. The result is a major expansion in both the breadth and depth of the distributor’s line card over the past year, giving customers even more confidence to come to Premier Farnell for the products they need, when they need them.

Over the past 12 months, the company has invested almost $100M in additional inventory, from $350M in stock a year ago to $444M today, increasing availability of in-demand products and the latest new product introductions. This represents an additional 77,000 new SKUs (product identification codes) added during the year.

To complement this investment in stock, a number of new franchises have been added to the Premier Farnell product offering. These include key new suppliers such as Xilinx, Nordic Semiconductor and Arduino, which add greater choice for customers. Additions cross the entire range of product categories distributed by Premier Farnell, from Semiconductors, Interconnect, Passive and Electro-mechanical, Single Board Computing; to Test and Tools where Premier Farnell leads the market for high service distribution.

Chris Breslin, SVP Product for Premier Farnell said: “The significant investment made in inventory and supplier relationships means that customers can count, more than ever, on Premier Farnell to provide the products they need, when they need them. As the Development Distributor, it is our aim to be there when it matters, and we are delighted to be able to do so, every day, for our many customers across the globe.”

Premier Farnell operates as Farnell element14 in Europe, Newark element14 in North America and element14 in Asia Pacific.

Notes to Editors

Full details of suppliers added to the Premier Farnell linecard are:

Semiconductors

• Xilinx: the inventor of the FPGA, programmable SoCs, and now, the ACAP (Adaptive Compute Acceleration Platform)
• Nordic Semiconductor: a supplier of a world-class range of wireless devices incorporating ultra-low power (ULP) wireless chips that can run for a long time from small power sources
• IDT: Integrated Device Technology develops system-level mixed-signal solutions for the communications, computing, consumer, automotive and industrial segments
• Allegro MicroSystems LLC: a leader in developing, manufacturing and marketing high-performance innovative integrated circuit solutions to serve high-growth applications within the automotive market, with additional focus on office automation, industrial, and consumer/communications applications
• Delkin: a leading USA manufacturer of industrial flash storage solutions for embedded, industrial application

IP&E (Interconnect, Passive & Electromechanical)

• Amphenol SV microwave: SV Microwave designs and manufactures RF/microwave coaxial connectors, cable assemblies and passive component for military, IoT, 5G, satellite, high speed, aerospace, commercial and telecommunications applications
• Nidec-Copal: manufacture and sales of optical equipment and electronic equipment
• BEL Group: designs, manufactures and markets a broad array of products that power, protect and connect electronic circuits
• Omega: leading industrial control products, including temperature, thermocouples, RTD connector wires, pressure load cells and control panel meters

Single Board Computing

• Particle: an all-in-one IoT platform providing everything required to power an IoT product
• GraspIO: developers of a Raspberry Pi expansion board with a mobile platform for end-to-end IoT development and deployment
• Arduino: the hugely popular open-source electronics platform based on easy-to-use hardware and software
• Hanhaa: developers of an Excel-integrated IoT device, Symbisa, empowering people to build simple, powerful IoT experiences and insights with ease

Test and Tools

• SIMCO Electronics: a leading provider of calibration and software services for test and measurement instruments used in technology organisations.
• MG Chemicals: a formulator, manufacturer and distributor of chemical products for the electronics and associated industries
• Lulzbot: 3D printers providing professional grade 3D Printing products at around a $2k price point
• Creality 3D: 3D printing R&D, manufacturing and sales, plus the supply of printer accessories, consumables, education, and printing services
• Beehive Electronics: manufacturer of high-performance test accessories for RF electronics
• Electrolube: global manufacturer of electro-chemicals including thermal management materials, conformal coatings, encapsulation resins, electronic cleaning solutions and general maintenance products

Work has now started on site for Premier Farnell’s high-quality 361,000 sq ft distribution unit at Muse Developments’ flagship Logic Leeds site.

A special turf-cutting ceremony was held on March 29 at Logic Leeds to celebrate the start of construction work on the state-of-the-art distribution hub. The warehouse build, which will be the largest ever warehouse development in Leeds, is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. The main contractor is Derbyshire-based Bowmer and Kirkland.

The ceremony was attended by directors of Premier Farnell and Muse. Councillor Richard Lewis of Leeds City Council and Roger Marsh, Chairman of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) were also present along with senior officers from the city council.

Nick Wilkins, Chief Supply Chain Officer for Premier Farnell stated: “The start of the warehouse build is a key milestone in this project and an important occasion for Premier Farnell. This warehouse will become the largest distribution centre in the Premier Farnell group and a hub for future growth, allowing us to target new opportunities from right here in Leeds. As our business grows and we take our place within the Avnet ecosystem, increased distribution capacity coupled with the latest technology means our customers can continue to rely on us to deliver products when they need them. This is a significant investment for Premier Farnell and we are delighted to be continuing our long-established presence in Yorkshire as we look forward to the future.”

James Scott, Development Director with national developer and regeneration specialist Muse, commented: “This is another significant milestone in the successful Logic Leeds story and it is exciting to be able to celebrate the start of work on site for such a prestigious tenant. Premier Farnell is a worldwide player in the electronics distribution industry and its decision to come to Logic Leeds is a testament to the qualities of our development. Premier Farnell’s building is going to be an important addition to a site which already boasts a number of other high-profile occupiers, including Amazon and John Lewis Partnership.

Cllr Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council Executive Member for Regeneration, Transport and Planning commented: “It is great news that Premier Farnell is remaining in Leeds, protecting hundreds of jobs that could otherwise have been lost from the city. The Council has worked hard with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to retain the company in the city, and are pleased that they have decided to make such a substantial investment giving a strong platform from which to grow their business moving forward.”

Roger Marsh OBE, Chair of the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership commented: “We are delighted that Premier Farnell will enhance their high service distribution of technology products and solutions from what will be the largest ever warehouse development in Leeds. Our key industrial sectors are changing rapidly and the ability to embrace and adopt fast emerging digital technology and the Internet of Things, whereby computing devices are embedded in everyday objects to send and receive data, will improve our productivity and define our future economic identity.

“This decision means Premier Farnell – a global tech leader - can sit at the heart of this opportunity and pioneer this strategy from Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone,” he added.

The marketing agents for Logic Leeds are the Leeds offices of Carter Towler and Knight Frank. Cushman and Wakefield acted for Premier Farnell.

Photo 16 caption: Nick Wilkins, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Premier Farnell, Councillor Lewis and Roger Marsh from the LEP, Peter Birks, Business President, Farnell element14.

Premier Farnell, the technology distributor, today announces investment in a 360,000 sq foot warehouse at Muse Development’s Logic Leeds, within a Leeds City Council Enterprise Zone, retaining £650m in revenue and jobs in the Yorkshire region.

The site, based off junction 45 of the M1, will stock over 420,000 products within the 360,000 sq foot facility and has the potential for up to one million square feet of distribution capacity as the business continues to respond to market growth opportunities.

Graham McBeth, President of Premier Farnell said; “This is a significant investment in a modern, automated warehouse, made possible by the opportunities for growth in the market and the support of our American parent company, Avnet. I am delighted that we are retaining our presence in Leeds.

Nick Wilkins, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Premier Farnell added; “Premier Farnell has a strong history in the Leeds area and we have great confidence in the Yorkshire workforce. This new warehouse, with great transport links, retains jobs in the region and will allow us to grow to support market demand.”

Logic Leeds sits within one of the Leeds City region Enterprise Zones which is supported by Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Leeds City Council, the Department of Communities and Local Government. Muse Developments has partnered up with Sheffield based Bowmer and Kirkland to build the state-of-the-art distribution warehouse. Works commenced in early February 2018, with completion scheduled for the end of the year. The site is expected to be operational by late 2019 / early 2020.

Roger Marsh OBE, Chair of Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) said: “We are delighted that Premier Farnell will enhance their high service distribution of technology products and solutions from what will be the largest ever warehouse development in Leeds. Our key industrial sectors are changing rapidly and the ability to embrace and adopt fast emerging digital technology and the Internet of Things, whereby computing devices are embedded in everyday objects to send and receive data, will improve our productivity and define our future economic identity. This decision means Premier Farnell – a global tech leader - can sit at the heart of this opportunity and pioneer this strategy from Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone.”

Cllr Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council Executive Member for Regeneration, Transport and Planning commented: “It is great news that Premier Farnell is remaining in Leeds, protecting hundreds of jobs that could otherwise have been lost from the city. The Council has worked hard with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to retain the company in the city, and are pleased that they have decided to make such a substantial investment giving a strong platform from which to grow their business moving forward.”

James Scott, Development Director at Muse, commented: “This is fantastic news and another significant milestone in the Logic Leeds story. The decision by Premier Farnell, a worldwide player in the electronics distribution industry, to come to Logic Leeds is testament to the qualities of our development.”

Premier Farnell’s existing warehouse is in Armley, Leeds, with an additional overflow stocking facility located nearby. In the last 12 months Premier Farnell has invested more than £60m in additional inventory across the globe, instigating a Europe-wide search for a new warehouse facility to support demand. Premier Farnell is now working with Leeds City Council and the Local Planning Authority to agree the future of the existing warehouse building and to develop transport solutions for employees moving to the new site.

Premier Farnell operates as Farnell element14 in the UK and Europe.

Premier Farnell, the Development Distributor and sponsor of Startupbootcamp IoT: connected devices, has shared its ‘ones to watch’ following the culmination of the three month Accelerator Programme at the Startupbootcamp IoT demo day on 24^th January 2018.

Nine start-ups joined the accelerator in December 2017 and have since been working with a range of mentors to develop their ideas and bring their products to market. At the Accelerator’s demo day, the start-ups pitched for second round funding, collectively looking for £4.1m to support the next stage of their development.

The 2017 cohort has seen a dramatic shift towards industrial IoT, with eight of the nine start-ups focusing on addressing issues in business, industry and farming rather than more traditional smart home devices.

Premier Farnell’s top picks from the 2018 cohort address key problems in the market, have broad application and growing market opportunities:

• HUDlog created a retrofit head up display unit to help correct expensive and dangerous commercial driving behaviour in real-time, whilst reducing a fleet managers operational costs – both fuel and insurance.
• Thing Blox provide OEMs and developers with a complete communication module that is 100% secure. Simply plug ThingBlox into a connected device and each one will have secure wireless connectivity hardware based authentication and automatic mass provisioning.

Steve Carr, Global Head of Marketing at Premier Farnell said: “Having worked with these start-ups for three months, it makes me very proud to see them present their ideas at the demo day, and share the successes they have had to date. The Internet of Things continues to be a market changing phenomenon. The opportunity it presents, combined with greater access to hardware and software support through startupbootcamp and Premier Farnell creates a unique opportunity for start-ups. It is easy to see how the next big idea, that changes the way we live and work, will not come from an established technology business. All the start-ups who participated in the accelerator in 2017 designed products that improve lives, improve our environment or save resources. They should be very proud of what they have achieved so far and I am very excited about what will come next.”

Other start-ups who presented on the day include:

• Odyssey Sensors and Mothive – developing solutions for farming

• Unifi.id, Sonodot and Squad robotics – tracking people and assets for greater efficiency

• Storybot – screen free technology taking children on adventures

• Internet of Trees – developing early warning solutions to minimise the impact of forest fires.

You can view the video from the day at: https://www.element14.com/community/community/businessofengineering/bootcamp/blog/2018/02/06/startupbootcamp-iot-demo-day

Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), a leading global technology distributor, today announced the promotion of Graham McBeth to the role of president of Premier Farnell Plc, effective immediately. McBeth will report directly to Gerry Fay, president, global business units, Avnet. In his new role, McBeth will be responsible for the strategic direction, day-to-day operations and performance of Premier Farnell.

McBeth, who most recently served as President of Avnet Abacus, the Avnet business specializing in interconnect, passive and electromechanical (IP&E) products throughout Europe, replaces Premier Farnell’s interim President Steven Webb. Webb, a 16-year veteran of Premier Farnell, has played an integral role during the last several months in overseeing Premier Farnell’s integration into the Avnet organization. He will remain with the company until January 31, 2017, to assist in the leadership transition.

“Graham is an accomplished leader who knows how to win in the market. With his strong commitment to team building, Graham grew the Avnet Abacus division into one of the most well-respected IP&E businesses in Europe,” said Fay. “His deep understanding of Avnet’s global business will enable Graham to serve as a great bridge for the Premier Farnell team, its customers and suppliers.”

“Since Avnet first announced its intent to acquire Premier Farnell, I recognized what a tremendous opportunity this would be to advance Avnet’s strategy of providing customers with a differentiated digital experience throughout the entire product lifecycle,” said McBeth. “This is the start of an exciting new chapter for both Avnet and Premier Farnell and I am thrilled to have the chance to help drive further success for our organization and our design and supply chain partners.”

A native of Scotland, McBeth is a results-oriented leader with extensive industry experience. He graduated from Glasgow University in 1984 and spent 11 years at National Semiconductor in a variety of roles, from product marketing to distribution and sales management. McBeth joined Abacus Group Plc in 1995, was appointed to the main board as technical director in 1997, and later became group managing director of Abacus with responsibility for the company’s sales and marketing strategy. In 2009, following the acquisition of Abacus Group by Avnet, McBeth became president of Avnet Abacus and led the IP&E specialist to a top position in the European market.

Headquartered in Leeds, United Kingdom, Premier Farnell is a global distributor of electronic components that utilizes a digital platform to provide innovators and engineers with the latest products, services and development software. Avnet offered to acquire Premier Farnell in July 2016 and completed the acquisition in October 2016.

Follow Avnet on Twitter: @Avnet

Connect with Avnet on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/avnet

Connect with Avnet on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AvnetInc

The element14 newsroom acts as a one-stop-shop for journalists by offering all the latest press releases translated into key languages along with the related hi-resolution imagery, allowing the media to get first hand access to all the necessary information for their publications quickly and easily. Soon to come will also be profiles of all element14’s key spokespeople, along with their headshots and the opportunity to request an interview.

Steve Carr, Global head of marketing for Premier Farnell says,

“We are always working on something new and wanted to create a designated space for people to come to, to get all the information they need to stay up to date with what is happening both with ourselves as well as our huge range of brands. Our newsroom is the perfect place for customers and journalists, as it is a truly global resource covering products from the world’s leading manufacturers, with content in local languages”.

The launch of the newsroom could not come at a better time, with Electronica 2016 just weeks away. Visit the element14 Newsroom at www.element14.com/news

Find out more about Farnell element14 at Electronica at www.electronica.farnell.com/

Notes to editors

Premier Farnell has created an Electronica Zone on its Newsroom where you can find out more about the planned activities, learn more about the Farnell element14 Executives who will be available for media interviews or request a meeting. Visit the Newsroom for more information.

“The combination of Premier Farnell with Avnet’s components business will create a truly unique distribution model that supports customers at every stage of the product lifecycle. By pairing our deep expertise in large volume broadline distribution with Premier Farnell’s specialization in proof of concept and design, we can offer true end-to-end solutions that accelerate a customer’s time-to-market and moves their products seamlessly from prototype through to volume production,” said William Amelio, Chief Executive Officer of Avnet. “As technology reaches deeper into more products and innovation proliferates through the internet of things, the ability to reach a wider base of engineers earlier in the design process will be critical to our future growth and success.”

Headquartered in Leeds, United Kingdom, Premier Farnell is a global distributor of electronic components that utilizes a digital platform to provide innovators and engineers with the latest products, services and development software. The company supports a registered community of more than 430,000 members in 36 countries with multi-channel sales and marketing resources that combine traditional field sales and contact resources with innovative ecommerce interfaces.

The Raspberry Foundation has announced a further milestone in its extraordinary journey and celebrated yesterday at an event at the House of Commons hosted by Matt Hancock MP, Minister of State for Digital and Culture. element14 has partnered the Raspberry Pi Foundation since 2012, has manufactured and sold over 6.5 million Raspberry Pis, and has an exclusive customization service for the Raspberry Pi for customers in industry.

Chris Breslin, Chief Product Officer at element14 commented: “This has been an incredible journey. The Raspberry Pi began as something special for the education and maker market. Now, the Raspberry Pi has been embraced by industry and element14 has a successful customization programme focused on this market.”

Claire Doyle, Global Head of Raspberry Pi for element14 added: “We’re delighted to be celebrating another major milestone with our friends at the Raspberry Pi Foundation, so soon after Raspberry Pi’s fourth Birthday and the launch of the Pi3 Model B in February.

“As the leading manufacturer and distributer of the Raspberry Pi, element14 have manufactured and sold over 6.5 million Raspberry Pi boards and millions more accessories. We are thrilled to see this amazing product get into the hands of more and more customers worldwide.”

Raspberry Pi boards and accessories are available to buy from element14 in Europe, APAC and North America.

Additional content is available in our Featured Topic.

Ralf Buehler takes on the role of Chief Sales Officer on 1 February to lead the company’s global sales, marketing and ecommerce operation.

Buehler has more than 25 years’ experience in sales and distribution and an impressive track record in leading worldwide product marketing and sales strategies that grow market share and profitability. He joins element14 from Future Electronics, where he was Vice President & Managing Director EMEA, and has held numerous senior management and leadership roles in the electronics industry with organisations including Cree, Littelfuse, Texas Instruments and STMicroelectronics.

Based in element14’s London office and under Buehler‘s direction the sales team will focus on three core areas: selling components; selling services, such as software and re-reeling; and selling end products such as single board computers (SBCs). This will offer a seamless multi-channel experience to customers, ensuring they receive expert advice and products, when they need them, at the right price.

Reporting into Buehler, Peter Birks and Dan Hill have been appointed Business President Sales and Marketing and will be responsible for element14’s sales and marketing businesses in Europe and North America, respectively. Birks and Hill entered the business on 4 January and join Umasankar Pingali, Business President Sales and Marketing, in Asia Pacific.

Birks recent executive positions with the International multi-channel organisations Staples and Office Depot have given him a passion for technology and its use in driving revenue and customer traffic. Aligned with an effective and energised sales operation Birks looks forward to working with the European teams to deliver compelling customer experiences and exciting growth rates.

Dan Hill joins element14 from Crescent Electric Supply Company, the eighth-largest electrical distribution company in the US, where he served as general manager, responsible for Crescent’s $1Bn+ company-wide P&L and more than 130 national branches. Over the last 20 years, Hill has developed and implemented growth strategies which have more than doubled the bottom line in profit and added hundreds of new customers. He has also been recognised with the highly-accredited GE President’s Club top sales award and leadership award as well as the Crescent President’s Club top profit leadership award.