Simon Quicke

London

Editor at MicroScope Magazine

Editor at Tech Target

Editor at MicroScope UK

I'm a technology business journalist with 20 plus years experience. Currently editor of Microscope.

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Articles

Security growth buoys Westcon-Comstor

1 week ago | computerweekly.com | Simon Quicke

A strong performance on the security front, along with growth in software and services, helped drive decent numbers for Westcon-Comstor’s latest financial year. Sharing financial results for the 12 months to 28 February 2025, the distributor reported record annual gross sales of US$5.24bn, which is a 3.3% year-on-year increase. Gross margin rose to 22.4% on revenue of $1.97bn.
Channel catch-up: News in brief

2 weeks ago | computerweekly.com | Simon Quicke

Before we all head off to enjoy the bank holiday weekend, there is an opportunity to share some of the latest distribution and vendor partnerships, along with Pulsant’s efforts to attract managed service providers (MSPs) into the fold. Risk management player Kiteworks has chosen Kite Distribution as its channel partner to increase its market reach across the UK and Ireland.
HP’s UK&I managing director stresses importance of partner dialogue

2 weeks ago | computerweekly.com | Simon Quicke

It’s been three months since Ruth Patterson took up the position as UK&I vice-president and managing director at HP, and in the first few weeks, meeting and talking with partners has been a key priority. Patterson celebrated 30 years at HP this week, a career that has involved international roles and spells in the US, and her passion for the vendor and its ecosystem remains as strong as ever.
Dell arms partners with resiliency and automation tools

2 weeks ago | computerweekly.com | Simon Quicke

Dell has used its Technologies World event as the backdrop to unveil several software-driven enhancements designed to improve life for datacentre operators. The vendor has pitched the development as a positive for its channel partners, providing them with the opportunity to have a conversation with users around resiliency and storage capabilities.
TXP offers a fresh name in the mid-market

2 weeks ago | computerweekly.com | Simon Quicke

The private equity-backed channel group that includes digital services player Jumar and IT outsourcer Concept has unveiled a rebranded organisation that focuses on the mid-market. As a result, the name of the operation owned by Aliter Capital, offering a range of IT consultancy options that combine the expertise of Jumar and Concept, will be known as TXP (Technology x People).
Crayon Q1 hit by underperforming Nordics

2 weeks ago | computerweekly.com | Simon Quicke

Crayon Group has shared its first-quarter numbers as the firm continues to prepare for its combination with SoftwareOne. The channel player indicated that it had achieved a gross profit growth of 5% and an adjusted EBITDA margin of 12.1%, down 1.8% year on year (YoY), for the three months ended 31 March. Outside of the Nordics, the markets of which have been “soft”, the performance was better, with double-digit growth in all the major regions.
Sophos teams up with Capsule to cover MSP insurance needs

2 weeks ago | computerweekly.com | Simon Quicke

Sophos has recognised the increasing pressure managed service providers (MSPs) are coming under from customers to provide cyber insurance, and has formed a partnership to cover that requirement. The security player has formed a partnership with insurance broker Capsule to provide coverage for organisations that deploy the vendor’s solutions via an MSP.
Westcon-Comstor European unification efforts progressing

2 weeks ago | computerweekly.com | Simon Quicke

It has been a couple of months since Westcon-Comstor made the move to unify its European operations under a single leader in a move designed to make life easier for staff, vendors and partners. The executive given the task of bringing the distributor’s activities together under one banner was Rene Klein, executive vice-president for Europe, and he has already made progress implementing the strategy.
Ekco bolsters cyber testing with Predatech buy

2 weeks ago | computerweekly.com | Simon Quicke

Just a week after managed security services provider Ekco announced a fresh CEO, the channel player has made an acquisition to strengthen its capabilities. The move for Manchester-based cyber security consultancy Predatech will extend Ekco’s security prospects in the UK, as well as give the business a presence in the North West.
Channel moves: Who’s gone where?

2 weeks ago | computerweekly.com | Simon Quicke

Personnel moves over the course of the past week have seen a well-known distribution figure elevated to a European role, important channel contacts arrive in positions at AMD and Nutanix, and a commitment from one security vendor to increase its MSSP relationships across Central Europe. The distributor has promoted Matthew Sanderson to executive vice-president and president of EMEA effective from the start of next month.