Dual-listed international information and communications technology (ICT) group Datatec has appointed Dolph Westerbos CEO of Westcon Group, its global distributor of advanced networking, security and unified communications solutions, with effect from January 1.

He would take over from Dean Douglas, who was leaving Datatec to take up another role.

Westerbos, a joint US and Dutch national, had held several senior roles at Brambles, Dell and ModusLink, amassing experience in business-to-business services in the technology, supply chain and asset management sectors, as well as in business process outsourcing (BPO) operations. 

For the last three years, he worked at Commonwealth Handling Equipment Pool, the main operating company of ASX-listed Brambles, where he was group president of the Asia-Pacific and Europe, Middle East and Africa operations, as well as head of global strategy and marketing.

In these positions, Westerbos was responsible for revenues of $2-billion, 7 000 employees and operations in over 40 countries. 

Prior to this, he worked for Dell, where he was VP of Solutions and Services, a business with revenues of some $2.5-billion, operating across 50 countries and consisting of managed services, consulting, software and datacentre products.

He had previously helped to establish Dell's channel business in Europe, managing the company's relationships with its value-added resellers, before which he worked at Nasdaq-listed ModusLink for 12 years in a number of international senior general manager, operations, technology and sales roles, a global provider of supply chain, information technology and BPO services.

Commenting on the appointment, Datatec CEO Jens Montanana said Westerbos’ experience in global supply chain operations, coupled with his focus on operational efficiency and international commerce, would be invaluable.