Aussie IT distributor expands to NZ

Nextgen distribution has expanded into New Zealand by offering a 'serious equity stake' to a partner.

Managing director John Walters said the expansion will help the company better service Nextgen's clients.

"We have agreements with all of our key vendors, apart from Oracle, to do New Zealand as well. We needed to work out the best way to give them the best coverage in New Zealand. It just took us six months."

One reason why Walters paced his expansion was because he "was always nervous about just appointing a BDM and managing that role from Australia".

Rather the founder offered a stake in equity to Terry Dunn, who will manage Nextgen's New Zealand operation as of 1 October.

"Terry has taken a serious equity stake in Nextgen Distribution New Zealand and will run it as a local company.

"Nextgen Austraila retains a majority share," Walters told CRN.  

"Terry is right up there. He's on the ground, he's the MD of [Nextgen] New Zealand and he's getting a staff of three on board straight away."

Dunn has been active in the New Zealand channel for several years after founding VAD (Value Added Distribution), which was later acquired by Ingram Micro in 2009.

Nextgen was founded by John Walters two years ago in 2011. Walters claims the company's sale revenue has grown by 276 percent in FY12. Nextgen vendors include Oracle, Arista Networks, Violin Memory, Nominum, Objectivity and ZTE.