Tech Data Corporation is one of the world's largest distributors of technology products,
services and solutions. For more than 40 years, Tech Data has provided the logistics
capabilities and value-added services that enable resellers to efficiently and
cost-effectively support the diverse technology needs of end users in more than 100
countries.
Here are some of the milestones that have shaped our company's history:
1974 — Tech Data Corporation is founded by Edward C. Raymund, marketing data processing supplies directly to end users of mini and mainframe computers.
1981 — Steven A. Raymund, Edward's son, joins Tech Data, which had evolved into a
reseller of small computer supplies such as printer ribbons, cables, and diskettes. The
company employed approximately a dozen people, operating out of a small office/warehouse building near Tech Data's current headquarters in Clearwater, Florida.
1983 — Tech Data begins to transition from reseller of computer supplies to full-line
national distributor of personal computer products. Annual sales top $2 million as the
PC marketplace is still in its infancy.
1983 — Becomes first distributor to promote floor planning/leasing in the IT channel
1984 — Names Steven A. Raymund Chief Operating Officer of Tech Data
1985 — Establishes a credit group and third-party financing.
1986 — Steven A. Raymund succeeds his father as Chief Executive Officer.
1986 — Launches initial public stock offering on NASDAQ (ticker symbol: TECD).
1989 — Expands into Canada, the company's first expansion outside of the U.S.,
through the acquisition of Canadian distributor ParityPlus.
1991 — Publishes first online catalog, Tech Data Online.
1991 — Names Steven A. Raymund Chairman of the Board of Directors.
1991 — Recognized by FORTUNE magazine as one of America's fastest growing companies.
1992 — Adds software and operating systems to line card, including Microsoft products.
1993 — Opens export division in Miami to begin serving Latin America.
1993 — Surpasses $1 billion in annual sales.
1994 — Expands operations to Europe through acquisition of Paris-based Softmart
International, S.A., France's largest distributor of personal computer products.
1995 — Debuts on the FORTUNE 500, ranking 464th.
1995 — Implements private label delivery (PLD) on its products; first distributor to implement online access for product searching and order inquiry.
1997 — Opens its first distribution center in Latin America. Located in Sao Paulo, Brazil,
the facility provides select products to all of Brazil, the region's largest market for PC
technology.
1997 — Opens its Raymund Center headquarters office in Clearwater, Florida.
1998 — Introduces first Electronic Software Distribution (ESD) initiative, and first factory-direct services in company's history.
1998 — Acquires Munich-based Computer 2000 AG, Europe's leading provider of IT products to resellers, expanding its presence to more than 30 countries worldwide.
1999 — Acquires Globelle Canada, a leading mass storage and components distributor,
more than doubling its size in the Canadian market.
1999 — Establishes TechSelect, the IT channel's premier SMB reseller community.
2000 — Surpasses $5 billion in online sales.
2003 — Acquires UK-based Azlan Group PLC, a leading publicly-held European distributor
of networking and communications products, strengthening its European presence.
2005— FORTUNE places Tech Data atop its Hall of Fame, citing "Tech Data has risen faster on the FORTUNE 500 than any other company." Ranking 110th in 2005, Tech Data ascended 354 places on the FORTUNE 500 since 1995.
2005 — Opens facility in Mexico.
2005 — Surpasses $20 billion in sales.
2006 — Names Robert M. Dutkowsky Chief Executive Officer. Dutkowsky quickly positions the company to capitalize on new growth opportunities with an emphasis on
three strategic areas: execution, diversification, and innovation.
2006 — Completes implementation of pan-European ERP system to optimize operational capabilities.
2007 — Launches Advanced Infrastructure Solutions (AIS) division in the U.S. with
mission of targeting and accelerating the company's entry into fast-growing data center
market.
2007 — Forms joint venture (JV) with Brightstar Corp. to create pan-European organization
Brightstar Europe Limited, designed to capitalize on the fast-growing mobile distribution market in Europe.
2007 — Acquires certain assets of Actebis AG Switzerland.
2007 — Opens SMB sales operations center in Costa Rica. 2008 — Adds VMware to its Advanced Infrastructure Solutions (AIS) portfolio in the U.S. Just 18 months later, Tech Data becomes VMware's number-one distributor.
2008 — Acquires Nordics-based IT distributor Scribona, making Tech Data the region's market leader.
2009 — Enters the German mobile handset market with the opening of Brightstar
Europe office in Munich; Brightstar Europe mobility JV ships one millionth handset.
2010 — Brightstar Europe mobility JV expands operations into France and Benelux and
adds product lines in Germany, UK, and Spain.
2010 — Acquires Netherlands-based Triade Holding B.V., accelerating the company's European consumer technology and mobility businesses.
2011 — Celebrates 25th year as a public company with then-record sales of more than
$24 billion, record net income, and record earnings per share.
2011 — Introduces TDCloud and TDCloud Academy, enabling resellers to profit from
cloud-based revenue streams by providing industry-proven solutions, services, support and training
2011 — Introduces the StreamOne Software License Selector, earning Tech Data a #92
ranking on the InformationWeek 500, an annual ranking of the top innovations in IT
2011 — Introduces accessTD mobile platform, enabling U.S. resellers to access Tech
Data's inventory of products at any time from their mobile devices
2011 — Ceases in-country operations in Brazil and Colombia.
2012 — Launches the Solutions Store in the U.S., the channel's first application storefront,
earning Tech Data a No. 40 ranking on the 2012 InformationWeek 500.
2012 — Introduces TDMobility, a U.S. joint venture with Brightstar Corp. that simplifies the selling, delivery, and support of mobile services for resellers serving SMB customers.
2012 — Acquires full ownership of Brightstar Corp's 50% ownership in the Brightstar Europe Limited JV and renames it Tech Data Mobile.
2012 — Acquires several distribution companies of Specialist Distribution Group (SDG), a leading distributor of enterprise and broadline IT products in the UK, France,
and the Netherlands, making Tech Data the leading distributor of both value and broadline IT products in Europe.
2013 — Expands relationship with IBM to offer IBM's full portfolio of products and services in the U.S., including Power Systems and enterprise-class storage.
2013 — Refreshes the Solutions Center at the company's headquarters in Clearwater,
Florida. The Solutions Center is now a 6,000+ square-foot IT solutions lab featuring more than $6 million in IT products.
2013 — Acquires full ownership of Brightstar Corp's 50% ownership in TDMobility.
2014 — Celebrates 40th anniversary of Company’s founding on November 19, 2014
2015 — Sells business operations in Chile and Peru to Ingram Micro and exits operations in Uruguay.
2015 — Acquires Signature Technology Group, Inc. (“STG”), a
partner-led provider of data center and professional services throughout North America.
2015 — Announces the global launch of TDCloud and the company’s award-winning Tech Data Cloud Solutions Store, powered by the company’s
StreamOne platform.
2015 — Named Microsoft Distribution Partner of the Year for second straight year.
2016 — Names Richard A. Hume Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer.
2017 — Acquires Technology Solutions business from Avnet, expanding the company's capabilities in next-generation technologies and establishing a presence in the Asia-Pacific market.
2018 — Names Richard A. Hume Chief Executive Officer. Dutkowsky transitions to Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors.