Reliable Sources

> ROBERT LAIKIN After years of dominating the cellular phone space, Brightpoint&'s chairman and CEO is venturing into the mobile data solutions market. This year, the distributor signed deals with Skype and other VoIP vendors and plans to create bundles that include mobile devices, activation, rate plans and vertical applications for small businesses.

> RICH FENNESSY Insight Enterprises is often portrayed as CDW&'s little sibling, but the CEO of the Phoenix-based direct marketer is taking measures to end that comparison. Since joining Insight in November 2004, Fennessy has replaced 40 percent of the management and invested $1.5 million in a new solution provider engagement model to help deliver services to small businesses.

> FRED CUEN AND ED COLEMAN Enterprise distributors Arrow Electronics and Avnet Partner Solutions are finding new ways to bring complex solutions down to SMB solution providers. This year, a pair of new faces led the charge. Cuen, who most recently headed Avnet&'s IBM division, took the reins from Steve Tepedino as president of Avnet Partner Solutions in May. Coleman, former chairman and CEO of CompuCom, replaced Mike Long as president of Arrow North American Computer Products in September.

> SIMON HSIEH Solution providers are buying products from more alternative sources, including e-tailer Newegg.com. Although CEO Hsieh&'s company doesn&'t market to solution providers, it finished first in CRN&'s 2005 Sourcing Study for products, price, information systems, logistics, configuration and integration.