GTDC CEO Tim Curran Announces Retirement

Written by Buffy Naylor
December 12, 2018

After leading the organization for more than 16 years, he wants to focus more on family and teaching.

Tim Curran, CEO of the Global Technology Distribution Council (GTDC), has announced that he is retiring from the organization after 16 years of leading its development as an international authority on technology distribution. His tenure at GTDC will conclude on Jan. 2, 2019.

GTDC’s Tim Curran

Since his appointment to the position in 2002, Curran has continually advanced the GTDC’s partnerships, resources and initiatives focused on creating better awareness and understanding of distribution’s growing impact and value worldwide.

“It’s been a fantastic overall experience, with countless memories that are among the best in my life,” Curran said. “I’m especially grateful for the team we created, the incredible support they provided over the years and all the industry contacts I’ve had the pleasure of engaging on all sides of the industry — from the distribution community worldwide, as well as technology companies across all regions. My heartfelt thanks go out to everyone, along with my strong intent to stay in touch and potentially contribute in new ways.”

In announcing his retirement, Curran said he plans to increase his focus on family and teaching. For the past decade, he has been a popular instructor at the University of South Florida St Petersburg, where he teaches global business as well as management in the university’s MBA Program.

Curran said he will also leave open the possibility of industry speaking engagements and consulting opportunities.

“Although I’m retiring from the GTDC, and that inherently entails slowing down, I will remain an active and passionate voice for all this industry offers, particularly from a channel perspective,” he said. “It’s been an honor to be a part of the channel’s remarkable evolution over the past three decades, including at the GTDC and prior with both distribution and vendor companies.”

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Before joining the GTDC, Curran was senior vice president of sales at Tech Data, where he led an organization with more than 1,100 sales, technical support and customer service representatives. Prior to that he was vice president and group general manager of Panasonic Computer Peripherals Co.

“Tim is a very highly regarded industry professional who has done a lot for the GTDC and its members,” said Alain Monié, chairman of the GTDC’s board of directors and CEO of global distributor Ingram Micro Inc. “His knowledge, commitment and engagement made a profound difference that will have a lasting impact.”

Following Curran’s departure, Kavita May, the GTDC’s senior vice president of planning and operations, will assume interim leadership responsibilities.

The GTDC is the industry consortium representing the world’s leading tech distributors. GTDC members drive more than $150 billion in annual worldwide sales of products, services and solutions through diverse business channels. Each year, the GTDC releases a Tech Distribution Outlook Report, which provides a view of where the industry is headed from the perspective of channel leaders worldwide.