In its pursuit of a more robust ecommerce presence, electronics distributor Avnet has appointed Dave Youngblood, an experienced leader in digital technology and operations within the electronics sector, to the newly established role of chief digital officer.
Avnet Inc., a multibillion distributor of electronics, is advancing its digital commerce strategy to enhance its competitiveness in an industry filled with online rivals. To spearhead its intensified concentration on ecommerce, Avnet announced yesterday that it has named seasoned digital executive Dave Youngblood as its chief digital officer.
In his role as CDO, Youngblood will direct and further develop Avnet’s comprehensive digital platform and ecommerce strategy.
“We are excited to welcome Dave to sharpen our focus on providing top-tier digital and ecommerce functionalities,” said CEO Phil Gallagher. “His guidance will simplify the digital experience with Avnet, ensure the delivery of actionable data, and ultimately allow our customers to act more swiftly and effectively.”
With 25 years of experience in the electronics sector, Youngblood most recently served as the head of digital customer experience at Analog Devices Inc., a global semiconductor provider that “integrates analog, digital, and software technologies to create solutions that promote innovations in digitized factories, mobility, and digital healthcare.” ADI offers its products for purchase or quotes through an e-shop they describe as “the simplest way to buy direct.”
Before his tenure at ADI, Youngblood held roles in digital operations at Murata Manufacturing Co. and Texas Instruments. In his new chief digital officer role at Avnet, he will “lead and further enable Avnet’s enterprise-wide digital platform and ecommerce strategy,” as stated in the announcement of his appointment. Youngblood will report to CEO Gallagher and will be part of the company’s executive leadership team.
Avnet contends with established ecommerce rivals
Avnet and its newly appointed CDO are up against several competitors with established ecommerce platforms, such as Arrow Electronics, Future Electronics, Mouser Electronics, DigiKey, and World Peace Group. During a recent earnings call, Gallagher expressed Avnet’s intention to refine its approach to enhancing its ecommerce experience while benefiting from Farnell’s expertise.
For the fiscal year ending June 29, 2024, Avnet recorded total revenue of $23.76 billion, with 93.3% coming from its Electronic Components division and the remainder from its Farnell operating group.
Though Avnet does not disclose total ecommerce sales, it does make note that Farnell, with $1.60 billion in revenue, operates “primarily through an ecommerce channel.” Farnell’s product offerings include semiconductors, electromechanical components, and electronic testing and measurement equipment, which are primarily aimed at “lower-volume customers that need electronic components quickly for product development, prototyping, and testing.”
Avnet enhances its ecommerce capabilities
Farnell manages the Newark.com commerce site for the U.S. and various markets, including Brazil; it also runs the ecommerce platform Farnell.com for the UK, Germany, and other areas. Additionally, Farnell provides Element14 as both a community resource and an ecommerce site for electronics engineers. Avnet also has its branded ecommerce site.
“We will continue to assess our strategy structure to leverage the strengths of Avnet … comprehensively with Farnell,” Gallagher remarked during the earnings call, according to a transcript from Seeking Alpha.
He continued, “We remain committed to investing in the digital and ecommerce fronts. We’re not slowing down, as we believe this is crucial for the long-term value that Farnell can provide Avnet and its shareholders. So, stay tuned for more updates.”
Paul Demery is a contributing editor at Digital Commerce 360, focusing on B2B digital commerce technology and strategy. Contact him at paul@digitalcommerce360.com.
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