By: Linda Rosencrance
Netherlands-based The IT Channel Company (TICC), a distributor of ICT (information and communications technology) solutions for the small and medium enterprise, has appointed Michael Hartmann as the new CEO of its Quattro Business Solutions (QBS) division. Hartmann was just appointed chief commercial officer at QBS in August, effective Oct. 1. Prior to that he was with Microsoft, as global leader of the Dynamics SMB Partners.
QBS Group is an SMB distributor for Microsoft Dynamics that currently supports more than 350 partners in 15 countries. QBS supports partners – resellers and ISVs – with services aimed at increasing sales, reducing costs and improving profitability.
As CEO, Hartmann will lead QBS in its next phase of growth. Before this appointment, Hartmann headed up Microsoft’s SMB business in EMEA. The IT Channel Company has grown over the past three years from about $6.4 million in sales to $59 million, according to Louis Rustenhoven, chairman of the board at The IT Channel Company. Last year, QBS expanded its reach in the Microsoft Dynamics ecosystem by entering two new European markets, Ireland and Poland.
“We decided to adapt the company to match this growth, and to take the next step towards professionalizing The IT Channel Company,” he stated. “This way we can continue the upward trend. The new augmentation to our management readies us for the future.”
Hartmann will be responsible for the distribution of the Microsoft Dynamics portfolio. QBS expects stable growth in the coming years, in terms of its portfolio as well as the areas where it does business, officials said.
Last year TICC introduced its OneBizz product that encompasses services, tools and apps for Office 365 and Dynamics 365 and helps Microsoft partners offer their Microsoft-based cloud solutions to clients, company officials said. QBS announced OneBizz in July 2014.
Board member and former CEO Joop van Voorthuijsen becomes chief strategy officer. In that role, he will focus on the Dynamics 365/OneBizz strategy and the Microsoft Indirect CSP (Cloud Services Provider) program.
“We highly appreciate what Joop has done for The IT Channel Company,” stated Rustenhoven. “The QBS division was launched under his leadership, and has grown rapidly to more than 375 partners in 15 countries. We are extremely pleased that in his new role as CSO with his experience and vision he will make an important contribution to our future plans.