Kent Foster, a tall Texan with a bent for military discipline, is passing the reins at Orange County’s largest company.
Foster, 61, is set to step down as chief executive of Santa Ana-based technology products distributor Ingram Micro Inc. on June 1. Foster’s set to remain as chairman.
Taking over as chief executive is Foster’s hand-picked successor, Gregory Spierkel, Ingram Micro’s co-president.
Kevin Murai, Ingram’s other co-president, is set to become president and chief operating officer.
A year ago, Foster surprised many of Ingram’s customers and analysts when he fired longtime chief operating officer and presumed heir apparent Michael Grainger.
Murai and Spierkel were appointed the same day as Grainger’s departure was announced.
Spierkel, 48, joined the company eight years ago as president of Ingram’s Asia-Pacific region. He moved from there to the company’s Europe operation in 1999.
Before joining Ingram, Spierkel spent 11 years at Canada’s Mitel Corp., a maker of telecommunications gear and chips. Spierkel was Mitel’s president of North America and vice president of global sales and marketing.
Foster became chief executive five years. The Vietnam veteran saw Ingram through the technology downturn. He undertook a massive restructuring, cutting thousands of jobs and closing warehouses.
In a 2003 interview, the retired Air Force captain said, “I don’t see how people run a company without being in the military.”
Ingram ships products for computer and other electronics makers to resellers and stores worldwide.
In the past year, Ingram has enjoyed an improving technology market as well as the fruits of Foster’s streamlining.
2004 revenue was up 13% to $25 billion. Net income was up 47% to $220 million.
Foster, who has split his time between OC and his primary home in Dallas, said in a statement he looks forward to running Ingram’s board and offering input to Spierkel and other executives.
