February 22, 2011 - Avnet's Fred Cuen and Tony Vottima Recognized as 2011 Channel Chiefs by Everything Channel's CRN

Tempe, Ariz. -- Avnet Technology Solutions, an operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), today announced that Fred Cuen, senior vice president, general manager, IBM Solutions, Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas, and Tony Vottima, senior vice president and general manager, HP Solutions, Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas, have been named 2011 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.

"We're here to help our business partners successfully deliver technology solutions into high-growth markets. Leaders like Fred and Tony merge experience and innovation to make that happen every day for our reseller partners and suppliers," said Jeff Bawol, president, Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas. "Their knowledge of the channel and ability to identify market opportunities, complemented by our SolutionsPath® methodology, ensures that we continually provide our partners a winning advantage in the marketplace."

Fred Cuen

Cuen is responsible for the strategic direction and growth of Avnet's IBM business in the U.S. and Canada. This past year he focused the IBM Solutions group for Avnet Technology Solutions Americas on opportunities where Avnet could help partners close deals quickly, grow their businesses by selling higher-growth technology solutions, and by positioning them to win in fast-growing vertical market segments like government and healthcare. IBM partners who invested in developing additional skills and market specialization through Avnet Technology Solutions' SolutionsPath® methodology for the government market grew their businesses by 24 percent, and those focused on the healthcare market grew by 31 percent in 2010. With this approach, Avnet's IBM channel partners in the Americas grew their IBM sales by 15 percent in 2010, and the IBM solutions group topped $1.76 billion in the Americas in revenue for the first time ever. This significant achievement enabled Avnet partners to gain market share, even in challenging economic times.

Tony Vottima

Vottima has been with Avnet for 22 years. He 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. Through HealthPath® and GovPath®, as well as Avnet's newest vertical market practices launched in 2010 - EnergyPath™, FinancialPath™ and RetailPath™ he and his team have helped partners rapidly get up to speed in these markets and begin generating revenue. The vertical market practices are complemented by specialized technology practices -- NetworkPath™, MobilityPath™, SecurePath™, StoragePath™ and VirtualPath®. He also led the development of several new offerings designed to help reseller partners expand their services offerings and increase their margin potential. These included SolutionsPath® Services, CloudReady™, and SolutionsPath Advisor™. Avnet Technology Solutions' revenue growth outpaced the market growth for services, software and hardware, based in large part on Vottima's vision of enablement offerings and significant investment in solutions-focused demand generation activities.

"Being named a Channel Chief continues to be one of the most prestigious honors in the IT industry. This year's Channel Chiefs offer tremendous insight into the who's who of the Channel," said Kelley Damore, vice president, 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 2011 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 21, 2011 issue.

About Everything Channel (www.everythingchannel.com, www.channelweb.com)
Everything Channel, headquartered in Framingham, MA, 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 IT 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 2010, the group served customers in more than 70 countries and generated US $8.19 billion in annual revenue. Avnet Technology Solutions (www.ats.avnet.com) is an operating group of Avnet, Inc.

About Avnet Inc.
Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT), a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded technology serving customers in more than 70 countries worldwide. Avnet accelerates its partners' success by connecting the world's leading technology suppliers with a broad base of more than 100,000 customers by providing cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended July 3, 2010, Avnet generated revenue of $19.16 billion. For more information, visit www.avnet.com.

Media Contact:
Marcia Chapman
Brodeur Partners, for Avnet
mchapman@brodeur.com
+1-480-308-0284