Jamie Brothwell says she “questions the direction of travel” of the IT channel as she acknowledged she may not remain in the industry following her decision to leave Exertis IT.
In a move announced internally at the start of the month, Brothwell will exit the distributor on 30 September after 23 years.
Her departure comes almost a year after Exertis IT opted to exit the PC market and refocus on six specialist areas, and two months after parent DCC Group agreed to sell the business to private equity house Aurelius.
Talking to IT Channel Oxygen, Brothwell said she “couldn’t say enough positive things” about Exertis, stressing that the duo “part best of friends”.
But she also questioned whether she would stay in the industry.
“There’s a question mark in my mind in terms of the direction of travel I see the channel going in from a diversity perspective, which will dictate my next move,” she said.
“I’m open to opportunities in the channel, but I sadly fear there might not be one for me.
“If there isn’t, I’m cool with that because I’m comfortable with where I am and what I’ve achieved.”
Boys’ club?
Brothwell claims Exertis’ specialist units have grown 12.5% in the year to date, despite a “challenged UK market”. Exertis is also now recognised as a “frontrunner” on social leadership in DE&I and sustainability, she added.
At last week’s Channel Chat Live event, a question put by host Marc Sumner on whether recent high-profile hiring moves show the industry is no more than a “boys’ club” struck a chord with Brothwell.
“I do question whether it’s a boys’ club,” she said.
“I liken our channel to the Football League – the same managers over and over again getting recycled and the same people moving around. They’ve never really pulled up any tress, but they still get the jobs because they are ‘a name’.
“I do question whether the agenda is changing, and it feels like we’re reverting back to more what I recognised in the channel five years ago.
“Everyone’s talking about how do we encourage new entrants to the industry. If you’ve got a lack of diversity at the top why would encourage diversity to enter the industry? People are looking for people they can relate to or that look like them.”
Doug Woodburn is editor of IT Channel Oxygen
