Business Services Industry

Avnet Executive to Show Companies How to Navigate Supply Chain

Business Wire, Oct 18, 2007

PHOENIX -- It's sink or swim in today's electronics industry - and distributors can help customers navigate the waters. Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT) executive Ed Smith, will outline exactly how distributors can help at the IPC Management Meetings on October 22, 2007.

The IPC Management Meetings and the Executive Market and Technology Forum Conference will take place October 22-24, 2007 in Las Vegas. This year's theme is "Innovation, Acceleration and Commercialization." Smith, senior vice president of sales for Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas, will make his presentation during the IPC Management Meetings, as part of the panels targeting the EMS industry. These meetings feature a line-up of industry experts on business strategies.

"Navigating through today's supply chain challenges can be daunting - it's a very complex world. But distribution can help, and Avnet has been a leader in supply chain solutions since the early days," said Smith. "We have the tools and processes - in place to help customers meet their specific supply chain needs, and can scale that to a global level."

Smith is a 20-year veteran of the electronics industry, beginning his career at W.W. Grainger. He has led the Electronics Marketing Americas sales team since 2004. Before that, he served as president and chief executive officer of SMTEK, International, an electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider, serving OEMs primarily in the industrial and instrumentation, medical, telecommunications, financial services automation and aerospace and defense industries. He also served on the board of directors at SMTEK International.

The Executive Market and Technology Forum Conference occurs on October 23rd and 24th. The event focuses on the most up-to-date information on technology trends and market data. Attended by every segment of the industry from OEMS to equipment suppliers, it is a rare opportunity to learn where the rest of the industry is headed and talk to customers and suppliers.

For more information on the event, please go to:

http://www.ipc.org/vegas2007.> About Avnet Electronics Marketing

Avnet Electronics Marketing is an operating group of Phoenix-based Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT), a Fortune 500 company. Avnet Electronics Marketing serves electronic original equipment manufacturers (EOEMs) and electronic manufacturing services (EMS) providers in 73 countries, distributing electronic components from leading manufacturers and providing associated design-chain and supply-chain services. The group's Web site is located at http://www.em.avnet.com/.>