Ingram Micro

Ingram Micro Holding Corporation is an American distributor of information technology products and services. The company is based in Irvine, California, U.S. and has operations around the world. Founded as Micro D, Inc in 1979 in California by Geza Czige and Lorraine Meccathe, the company, originally a traditional distributor focused on marketing, selling and shipping vendor products to resellers, is currently specializing on becoming a platform-based business that focuses on its digital experience platform.

History

Early history

Ingram Micro's origins trace back to the founding of distributor Micro D, Inc. in July 1979 by husband and wife team, Geza Czige and Lorraine Mecca, who were both teachers. The company started in Southern California and in its first year of business achieved approximately $3.5 million in sales.

Meanwhile, in 1982, entrepreneurs Ronald Schreiber, Irwin Schreiber, Gerald Lippes, and Paul Willax were busy founding Software Distribution Services in Buffalo, N.Y. Ingram Distribution Group, a unit of the privately held Ingram Industries, acquired Software Distribution Services in the spring of 1985 and renamed it Ingram Software. The operation was renamed Ingram Computer in February 1988.

After acquiring the remaining publicly traded shares of Micro D in 1989, Ingram Industries merged these two former competitors to create the microcomputer industry's first $1 billion computer products wholesale distribution company, renaming it Ingram Micro D.

In August 1993, Ingram Micro Belgium acquired Zaventem Electronic Dealer Distribution (Zedd) and much of its assets, including the right to distribute Hewlett-Packard products.

In 1996, Ingram Micro became a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange, with revenues exceeding $12 billion.

In July 2005, Ingram Micro purchased AVAD, LLC, a wholesale distributor for home automation and A/V gear. It sold this subsidiary in July 2016.

The Shared Services Center in Manila, Philippines, began operations in May 2009, followed by another in Sofia, Bulgaria, in 2012.

Ingram Micro built a presence in areas adjacent to its traditional distribution business, including enterprise computing, automatic identification and data capture (AIDC); point-of-sale (POS); managed, professional and warranty maintenance services; mobility; physical security; and consumer electronics.

2010s

In November 2010, Ingram Micro launched Cloud Marketplace, offering value-added resellers (VARs), Managed Service Providers (MSPs), software-as-a-service (SaaS), and cloud-based services.

After 17 years, Ingram Micro's VentureTech Network was renamed as Trust X Alliance.

In 2014, Ingram Micro expanded into cloud computing, and software-, platform- and infrastructure-as-a-service.

In June 2014, Ingram Micro changed their logo and introduced a new tagline: "Ingram Micro helps businesses realize the promise of technology".

In December 2015, Ingram Micro acquired Odin Service Automation platform from Parallels for $163.9 million. In December 2017, Ingram Micro acquired Cloud Harmonics, expanding its cyber security capabilities. In May 2018, Ingram Micro formed CloudBlue.

Ingram Micro acquired Comms-care, an IT support provider, in May 2016.

In February 2016, Ingram Micro agreed to a $6 billion acquisition by Tianjin Tianhai Investment, an HNA Group affiliate, becoming its subsidiary. It was reported at the time that Alain Monié, Ingram's chief executive, would remain in place. HNA Group director Tan Xiangdong was elected onto the 7-man board of directors of Ingram Micro. The transaction reportedly made Ingram the biggest revenue generator for HNA Group. The strategic reason for the transaction was to better reach "business opportunities in emerging markets, which have higher growth rates and better profitability." HNA Group's logistics and its presence in China was intended to help Ingram's growth. The acquisition was completed in December 2016.

After 17 years, Ingram Micro's VentureTech Network was renamed as Trust X Alliance.

In October 2017, Ingram Micro partnered with DocuSign.

2020s

In December 2020, Platinum Equity announced its intent to acquire Ingram Micro from HNA Technology Co. in an all-cash transaction with an equity value of approximately US$7.2 billion. The transaction completed in July 2021.

In June 2021, Sanjib Sahoo was named Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Officer of Ingram Micro.

In December 2021, CEVA Logistics, a subsidiary of CMA CGM, announced plans to buy Ingram Micro CLS; Ingram's Third Party Logistics arm.

Paul Bay was named Ingram Micro's CEO in January 2022. Alain Monié stepped down as Ingram Micro's CEO after a decade.

Xvantage platform, utilizing a real-time, global data mesh and several proprietary engines, was launched in 2022.

In April 2022, CEVA Logistics completed the acquisition of Ingram Micro's third-party logistics arm, Commerce & Lifecycle Services (CLS).

In May 2022, Ingram Micro previewed its digital experience platform ecosystem known as Ingram Micro Xvantage. In September 2022, Ingram Micro introduced Ingram Micro Xvantage in two of its largest countries, the United States and Germany.

At the 2023 Global Cloud and Innovation Summit in Las Vegas, Ingram Micro announced the integration of its Cloud Marketplace with the Xvantage platform.

In October 2023, Ingram Micro was named a 2023 ChannelPro SMB All-Star winner for its platform, Ingram Micro Xvantage.

Also in October 2023, Ingram Micro announced the launch of its Ingram Micro Xvantage mobile app. The app provides real-time transactional benefits, including live order status, tracking, renewals, and subscription billing.

On January 10, 2024, Ingram Micro Xvantage was awarded the 2024 BIG Innovation Award for Internet and Technology.

After launching in the UK in February 2024, Ingram Micro Xvantage was awarded the 2023 Technology Reseller Editor's Choice Award based on the three criteria of Design, Innovation and Functionality. The Xvantage platform was also awarded the Stock in the Channel (Stockies) 2024 Specialty Award for Distributor Platform of the Year.

On October 15, 2024, Ingram Micro launched its second initial public offering, targeting $5.4 billion USD. The company's stock began trading on the NYSE on October 24, 2024, with shares rising 15% on debut, valuing the company at $6 billion.

The Ingram Micro ONE flagship conference was hosted from November 6–8, 2024 in Oxon Hill, Maryland.

In November 2024, Ingram Micro introduced its Ultra loyalty program, providing partners with enhanced incentives, data-driven insights, expert support, and application integration.

In January 2025, Ingram Micro unified SMB Alliance and Trust X Alliance into a single global community, Trust X Alliance, creating a network of over 600 partners.

In January 2025, Sanjib Sahoo was named as President of Global Platform Group.

Notable employees

Former U.S. Congressman Chris Lee once worked at Ingram Micro.

Bülent Ural, who currently works as a sales consultant for Ingram Micro's German branch, was a member of the German-Turkish musical group Sürpriz, which represented Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1999.

Acquisitions

*2004 – acquired Tech Pacific, an IT distributor, significantly increasing presence in the Asia-Pacific region
*2012 – acquired mobility company BrightPoint, a mobile device lifecycle services company
*2013 – acquired CloudBlue, an ITAD company
*2015 – acquired DocData, a e-commerce fulfillment provider in Europe
*2019 – acquired Abbakan, a French cybersecurity distributor
*2020 – acquired Harmony PSA to further the CloudBlue platform
*2021 – Ingram Micro acquired BRLink, a Brazilian MSP

Recognition

Selected awards for Ingram Micro include:

*2023 Technology Reseller Editor's Choice Award based on the three criteria of Design, Innovation and Functionality 
*Two 2024 AWS Partner Awards
*2024 Business Intelligence Group: Big Innovation Award Winner (Xvantage)
*Stockies Awards: Platform Distributor of the Year (UK)
*Microsoft: Americas Distributor Partner of the Year (Americas)
*Microsoft: Microsoft Surface EMEA Distributor of the Year (EMEA)

References

External links

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American companies established in 1979
Software companies established in 1979
Computer companies of the United States
Electronics companies of the United States
Manufacturing companies based in California
Software companies based in California
Technology companies based in Greater Los Angeles
Companies based in Santa Ana, California
Computer companies established in 1979
Electronics companies established in 1979
1979 establishments in California
Ingram family
2016 mergers and acquisitions
2021 mergers and acquisitions
Companies formerly listed on the New York Stock Exchange
HNA Group
1996 initial public offerings
Software companies of the United States
Private equity portfolio companies
Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange
2024 initial public offerings