Avnet’s Jeff Bawol and Tony Vottima Recognized as 2010 Channel Chiefs by Everything Channel’s CRN

Avnet Technology Solutions, an operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), today announced that Jeff Bawol, president, Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas, and Tony Vottima, vice president, Solutions Marketing and Development, have been named 2010 Channel Chiefs by Everything Channel’s CRN. Channel Chiefs are recognized as influential executives who consistently defend, promote and execute effective channel partner programs and strategies.

"Every day Jeff and Tony demonstrate the passion Avnet leaders have for this business and for their teams, resellers and suppliers,” said Philip Gallagher, global president, Avnet Technology Solutions. "Their knowledge of and dedication to this industry is at the heart of what Avnet means by ‘solutions distribution’ and why this strategy has translated into the innovative, actionable SolutionsPath™ programs and services that are enabling our partners to succeed in high-growth markets and technologies.”

Bawol has been a driving force in accelerating the growth of Avnet for 30 years. With an unwavering focus on reseller partner and supplier growth, Bawol and his Technology Solutions, Americas team are executing a unique solutions distribution strategy focused on helping partners grow by enabling them with comprehensive IT solutions that address their end users’ business challenges. Under Bawol’s leadership, Avnet Technology Solutions’ solutions-focused practices and vertical market practices grew by 19% year-over-year. Seeing the opportunities for growth aligned around the data center, he and his team recently secured the distribution relationship with Cisco that enables Avnet’s partners to capitalize on business opportunities related to the data center.

Vottima created the vision and designed the strategy behind Avnet’s successful SolutionsPath™ methodology. He has played a crucial role in helping partners grow their businesses by focusing on the development of market education and enablement programs in specialized growth areas such as healthcare and government. Through HealthPath™ and GovPath™, as well as Avnet’s specialized technology practices, VirtualPath™, StoragePath™, SecurePath™, NetworkPath™ and SolutionsPath™ Services, Vottima and his team continue to help solution providers excel in a constantly evolving marketplace. Through the use of SolutionsPath™ Playbooks, Universities and Assessment Services, they prepare solution providers for success in today’s hot growth markets. They also conduct research to identify tomorrow’s emerging growth opportunities including cloud computing and emerging vertical markets.

"Being named a Channel Chief is one of the most prestigious honors in the IT industry. This year’s Channel Chiefs offers tremendous insight into the who’s who of the Channel,” said Kelley Damore, VP, editorial director, Everything Channel. "Top channel executives consistently ensure that the Channel’s voice is heard when strategic decisions are being made and continually nurture mutually profitable relationships. We applaud the 2010 Channel Chiefs for their successful partner programs and strategies.”

For additional information on the CRN Channel Chief list, visit www.channelweb.com. The Channel Chief list was published in the February 22, 2010, issue.

About Everything Channel (www.everythingchannel.com, www.channelweb.com)

Everything Channel, headquartered in Framingham, Mass., is a technology marketing and sales solutions company. Through its "Complete Technology Channel Solution,” Everything Channel offers the right business tools to accelerate technology sales. From branding and recruiting to marketing and sales, Everything Channel offers technology marketers the unmatched breadth and depth of global brands and market intelligence combined with unparalleled audience loyalty and credibility serving all technology sales channels through an extensive database. Everything Channel provides innovative field sales and marketing solutions to the sellers of technology to achieve measurable and significant results.

About Avnet Technology Solutions

As a global solutions distributor, Avnet Technology Solutions collaborates with its customers and suppliers to create and deliver effective solutions that address the business challenges of their end-user customers locally and around the world. For fiscal year 2009, the group served customers in more than 30 countries and generated US $7.04 billion in annual revenue. Avnet Technology Solutions (www.ats.avnet.com) is an operating group of Avnet, Inc.

Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded technology in the world. Avnet accelerates its partners’ success by connecting the world’s leading technology suppliers with a broad base of more than 100,000 customers and providing cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended June 27, 2009, Avnet generated revenue of $16.23 billion. For more information, visit www.avnet.com.