About 33 acquisitions during the past 10 years have helped Avnet, Inc., grow to become a $14 billion worldwide distributor of electronic components, computer products, and technology services. In fact, Avnet even wrote a "Cookbook" for itself about how to integrate newly acquired companies. Of course, the Cookbook includes chapters about IT, as well as other functional areas of the company.

Steve Phillips, CIO of Avnet, is up to the challenges of managing a globally aligned IT team to leverage the company's scale to drive cost efficiencies. At the same time, IT must remain responsive to local business unit needs. To help achieve this, Avnet's IT organization utilizes a business scorecard (modeled after the Balanced Scorecard) and benchmarking to make all key projects highly visible across all regions.

And, of course, driving innovation, in IT as well as other areas of the company, plays a big part in Avnet's culture. Phillips says that executive team strives to create an environment in which it's okay to raise new ideas. Not every idea has to be a great one, says Phillips; "IT is about innovation, I want to make sure people follow through with their ideas, and be able to raise their hand in they need help. We know people will make mistakes along the way; however, they need to know they have the collective support of the IT team."

Bio

Steve Phillips is senior vice president and chief information officer for Avnet, Inc., a $14 billion worldwide distributor of electronic components, computer products and technology services. He is a member of the Avnet Executive Board and was elected as a corporate officer in 2006. Phillips came to Avnet with the 2005 acquisition of Memec, where he had served as senior vice president and CIO since 2004. Prior to joining Memec, he was senior vice president and CIO for Gateway Inc, which he joined in 1999. Mr. Phillips holds a BSc (Hons) in Electronic Engineering from Essex University and a post-graduate Diploma in Management Studies from Thames Valley University. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Electrical Engineers.

Resources

Avnet, Inc.

Supply  Chains at Risk

Security  Q&A: Avnet's "Cookbook" for Safe Systems Integration

Production Credits

Elizabeth Ferrarini, Producer
Dana Farver, Executive  Producer, Communities Editor-in-Chief
Tom Parish, Audio Producer, Show  Host