Ex Renaissance boss returns to head potential competitor

Paul Johnston is back in the IT distribution game, poised to open a local subsidiary of UK-founded company Simms International.

The high-profile tech industry veteran quit Renaissance ahead of Christmas, carrying the can for disappointing results at the $100 million turnover company (NZX: RNS).

Renaissance’s glory days were those when it enjoyed an exclusive New Zealand license to distribute Apple’s products.

After the company lost its Apple exclusivity in 2006, Mr Johnston (pictured) led an aggressive push to diversify, taking on new IT product lines, and moving beyond distribution - including the 2007 purchase of education company Natcoll for $6 million in 2007, and retail chain Magnum Mac.

Now Mr Johnston is in the process of signing retail partners and hiring business development, sales and other staff for Simms new NZ operation, which will open an office in Auckland’s Albany during February.

The ex Renaissance boss has also become an investor in Simms International, which was founded in the UK in 1990 and expanded into Australia in 1995.

Across the Tasman, Simms numbers Apple, Bose, Western Digital and Cisco’s retail sub-brand Linksys among the vendors it distributes.

Apple of his eye
Mr Johnston said that, initially, Simms will distribute a limited number of those brands in New Zealand.

So far, he hasn’t said which, but all eyes will be on the vendor that crosses over with Renaissance: Apple.

Although Apple has retained the right to appoint a second (or third or fourth) NZ distributor since 2006, in practice Renaissance has remained its sole agent outside the iPhone (although Apple has begun selling products directly through its NZ website).

However, Mr Johnston told NBR that Apple would not be in Simms' initial line-up

And with Apple apparently happy with its current setup, he sees no immediate opportunity to add the brand. "But if they [Apple] make any changes then obviously we'd be interested."

Mr Johnston said his company would launch with four or five agencies.

Unlike Renaissance, Simms' NZ will be very much a pure-play company. "There are no plans to go outside distribution," said the former Renaissance boss.

Renaissance names new MD
Meanwhile, Mr Johnston's former company has named its new chief executive.

He is Richard Webb, a former chief executive of Australian company Citect, a seller of automation software for mining and other industries. 

Mr Webb also counts a stint in charge of Australasian web ratings company Red Sheriff on his CV, and in 2006 founded his own business incubator, Red Ocean. He has moved from Sydney to take charge of Auckland-based Renaissance.

NEW YEAR, NEW JOB
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Crown fibre kingpin takes Telecom lobbying job
Telecom vet takes charge of Crown Fibre Holdings
HP’s Grey uploads to Australasian marketing role