Dell wins Retail Vendor of the Year award

The ceremony, recently held as part of the Digital Consumer Channel (DCC MEA), is the ultimate professional networking event for senior executives from the consumer electronics, digital device and ICT products retail channel in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region.

"This is a moment of great pride and achievement for all of us," commented Michael Collins - General Manager, Dell Middle East.

"The award is a true recognition of Dell Middle East's efforts in spearheading various initiatives to achieve market leadership and penetration. For instance, our strategies to expand Dell's retail presence in the region by working closely with the retail channel partners, our efforts to boost Consumer team performance and the roll-out of improved products in response to customer feedback and demand such as revamped Inspirons and the redesigned XPS range of notebooks have all paid off."

The Vendor of the Year 2007-08 awards cover a variety of product segments such as PCs, TVs, mobile phones, peripherals and accessories. Vendors were assessed on a number of criteria including channel strategy, inventory management, margin potential, marketing, merchandising, training and support.

The winners in different categories were determined on the basis of live electronic voting by over 300 senior executives from the regional retail and vendor community present during the gala awards ceremony hosted at the Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort in Fujairah.

Pearce Clune, Head of Consumer for Dell Middle East, was on hand to receive the award.

"We are pleased since this acknowledgement comes at a time when we are being repeatedly recognized for our successes. Dell Middle East achieved the number 1 position in Saudi Arabia in the first quarter¹, and the number 1 position in GITEX in Saudi Arabia in April '08, besides being accorded with other awards including Best IT new Product Launch for XPS, by Plug Ins. All these great wins give us a great platform to look forward to the completion of an exciting year ahead," added Collins.

In addition to Dell's Vendor of the Year award, Brad Whatmough, Retail Manager for Dell Middle East, was announced as the runner-up in the Retail Channel Manager of the Year category.