Top 100 Resellers
In OPI's premier feature of each year, discover who appears in our list of the most influential resellers of our industry.
The calendar year for this feature runs from April - March, so if you would like to look at 2011's Top 100 Resellers please select that year in the drop down menu or alternatively the 2012 list will be published in our April 2012 issue.
Browse by A - Z
Claude Ackermann, Chairman of Board of Managers, PEG
As the process continues to find retiring CEO Jim Preston’s replacement, the onus falls on Managing Director of Switzerland-based dealer group PEG and Chairman of BPGI Claude Ackermann to manage the duties of the purchasing consortium.
Ton Adam, CEO, ACI Supplies
A year after changing its name, the former ACI Adam business is making encouraging progress under its new identity. The founder of the Netherlands-based IT distributor, Ton Adam, has overseen huge growth in recent years...
Charles Agee, Managing Director, OfficeMax Australia
Another new face in this year's Top 100 is Charles Agee who has been named OfficeMax's Managing Director in Australia...
Cengiz Akçay, Owner, Akçay Kirtasiye
While top-line growth did not reach the heights of 2010, Akoffice, the B2B arm of the Akcay group, still posted a healthy increase of 9.5% in 2011.
Millan Álvarez-Miranda, CEO, Unipapel
Spain’s Unipapel grabbed the headlines in 2011 with the year’s biggest OP acquisition, paying DS Smith £168 million ($263 million) for the Spicers Continental Europe (CE) wholesaling operations. The deal marks the transformation of Unipapel under Millan Ålvarez-Miranda
Laura Arghirescu, CEO, RTC Proffice Experience SA
Leading Romanian reseller RTC Proffice Experience ran into cashflow problems in 2010 forcing a restructuring of the company, and in November 2011 the business was taken over by Swedish investment fund Oresa Ventures.
Mark Austen, CEO, Office Club
With persistent negative press for the UK’s retail market over the past year, Office Club has successfully managed to keep its head – or those of its chiefly retail-focused dealers – above water...
Neil Austrian, CEO/Chairman, Office Depot
Neil Austrian’s appointment last May as permanent CEO at Office Depot was surprising; many expected the company to appoint externally...
Mark Baccash, President/CEO, Office 1 Superstores International
Often mistaken for a purely bricks-and-mortar-based retail franchise concept, Mark Baccash’s Office 1 (ad)venture is continuing its web focus...
Jay Baitler, EVP, Staples Advantage
Jay Baitler is now in his 17th year at Staples, having always worked in the Contract division, but his toughest challenges have emerged in the past few years...
Vitaly Balabanov, General Director, ARD
ARD – the Alliance of Russian Distributors – is a relative newcomer to the OP community, but 2011 was a landmark year for the company in terms of making its presence known.
Robert Baldrey, CEO, Vasanta Group
Having moved from a long career at rival Spicers, Robert Baldrey has been CEO of Vasanta Group – parent company of VOW – for almost two years...
Alan Ball, CEO, Spicers UK and Ireland
It has been a busy year for Spicers and Alan Ball. Ex-parent firm DS Smith sold the wholesale business to European giant Unipapel which offloaded its UK & Ireland operation to private equity group Better Capital.
Patricia Barber, President/CEO, The Supply Room Companies
2011 was a milestone year for US independent TSR as its acquisition of the Frank Parsons business took it beyond $100 million in annual sales...
Wayne Beacham, Chairman/CEO, SP Richards
Wayne Beacham has been Chairman and CEO of wholesaler SP Richards (SPR) since 2004, though this may have been one of his most challenging years...
Philip Becker, CEO/Chairman, Managing Director/Owner, EOSA, Hedera
A new entry to the Top 100 list, Philip Becker is Managing Director and Owner of Netherlands-based dealer Hedera. However, he is also Peter Basci’s replacement as Chairman and CEO of reseller alliance EOSA.
Albert Benalloul, President, The Weeks Lerman Group
The Weeks Lerman Group (TWLG) is the New York-based dealer established in 1995 from the merger of The Lerman Company and Weeks Office Products...
Ryan Bidgood, CEO, Office National Africa
Ryan Bidgood is CEO of $70-million strong dealer group Office National Africa (ONA), which has 63 members located across South Africa and in neighbouring markets...
Sergey Bobrikov, General Director, Komus
As the Russian economy has grown over the last decade, so too has the nation’s OP market. Moscow-based Komus is the largest OP supplier in Russia, offering school and office supplies and services...
José Mário Britto, General Director, Inforshop
A new entry to the Top 100 in 2012 is Inforshop, Lyreco’s new strategic partner in the growing Brazilian market...
Michael Brown, CEO, HiTouch Business Services
More of the same please; that’s Michael Brown’s attitude at HiTouch Business Services when he’s eying the year ahead...
Adrian Butler, Managing Director, VOW
Adrian Butler is in his third year as Managing Director of VOW, although his career spans the business’s previous incarnations of Neville and Gladstone, Kingfield, and Kingfield Heath...
Christopher Chambre, Managing Director, Lyreco France
In 2011 Lyreco France cemented its position as the group’s leading subsidiary. Both the SMB and corporate business segments grew by more than 2% during the year as total sales exceeded c511 million...
Charlie Cleary, President, TriMega Purchasing Association
2011 was an eventful year for TriMega President Charlie Cleary...
Tullio Cofrancesco, Acting CEO, Office Brands
Office Brands' CFO Tullio Cofrancesco has been handling the CEO duties at the Australian dealer group since the resignation of Andrew Boath last September.
Gary D'Andrea, COO, Grand & Toy
Canada-based OfficeMax subsidiary Grand & Toy supplies an array of office products...
Sharad Dalmia, Co-CEO, Staples Future Office
India was meant to be a real growth driver for Staples and its International division, but after five full years in its current JV set up, Staples Future Office has fallen somewhat short of expectations...
Robert de Montigny, President/CEO, Novexco
2011 was a “pivotal” year for Canadian dealer/retailer group and wholesaler Novexco...
Ingo Dewitz, Managing Director, Büroring
It’s been an active year at German dealer group Büroring and Managing Director Ingo Dewitz was quick to make his mark in his first full year at the helm with a full-blown restructuring process across the business...
Stefano di Veroli, CEO, C'Art & Office 1
With Italy one of the worst affected eurozone countries, businesses have had to be particularly cost-efficient and nimble to survive. Stefano di Veroli, CEO of gift and stationery chain C’ART and Office 1 Italy...
Joe Doody, President, Staples North American Delivery
As President of Staples North American Delivery (NAD), Joe Doody is responsible for the B2B divisions Staples Advantage, Staples Business Delivery and Quill...
Simon Drakeford, CEO, Euroffice
After successfully introducing a change programme when he joined online reseller Euroffice in 2007, CEO Simon Drakeford led a management buyout in 2010. Private equity firm Darwin acquired a majority stake and since then the business has been doing well...
Tony Ellison, CEO, Shoplet
As internet purchasing continues on its upwards spiral, OP e-tailer Shoplet.com continues to grow...
Benedikt Erdmann, Chairman, Soennecken
The task of a cooperative is to enable its members to do what they can’t do individually, according to Soennecken Chairman Dr Benedikt Erdmann...
László Fehér, Managing Director, Corwell
Corwell capped a successful 2011 by being named Wholesaler of the Year at the 2012 European Office Products Awards in Frankfurt in January. Managing Director László Fehér says it was a “fantastic feeling”...
Sean Fleming, CEO, Supplies Network
EOS distributor Supplies Network closed 2011 with more than $500 million in annual revenue...
Des Flynn, COO, Warehouse Stationery
Des Flynn has recently taken on the COO role at New Zealand's Warehouse Stationery after Tania Benyon followed former CEO Mark Powell to take on a group role.
Laura Gale, VP Marketing, United Stationers
It’s four years since Laura Gale became VP Marketing at United Stationers Supply Division...
Paulo Garcia, Managing Director, Kalunga
This year is the 40th birthday of Sao Paulo-based Kalunga, which was founded by the father of current Managing Director Paulo Garcia...
Mike Gentile, President/CEO, Independent Stationers
“2011 was a schizophrenic year,” says Independent Stationers (IS) dealer group CEO and President Mike Gentile...
George Gerardos, CEO, Plaisio Computers
In Greece as in several eurozone countries, it’s been a case of survival of the fittest and Plaisio Computers is a prime example. The multi-channel operator continues to battle the toughest of economic environments...
Jamie Gould, Managing Director, Office Depot Asia
When the experienced Teddy Chung left Office Depot at the beginning of the year, the company's number two in Asia Jamie Gould stepped up into the Managing Director's role.
Dave Guernsey, CEO, Guernsey Office Products
The big change for the CEO of Guernsey Office Products is that he has stepped down as Chairman of dealer group Pinnacle Affiliates to take up a new role...
Christian Heimer, Head of the Supply Chain, Indeks Retail
Danish reseller Indeks Retail merged with cooperative and fellow BPGI member in/out in 2011 with the aim of creating a more synergetic structure. Indeks’ General Manager and Chairman of the Board Henrik Christensen took leadership...
Joe Hemani, CEO/Owner, Westcoast
Joe Hemani has plenty of that sought-after entrepreneurial spirit. Having founded IT wholesaler/ distributor Westcoast in 1984, he’s survived and indeed prospered during recessions...
José Luis Hernández, Founder/President, Carlin
There are markets you would really rather not be in right now and Spain is definitely one. The secret is to buckle down and make the most of the few opportunities there are and that’s exactly what José Luis Hernández of Spanish franchise chain Carlin has done...
Shoichiro Iwata, President/CEO, Askul
Shoichiro Iwata continues to push ahead with his plans to transform Askul into a leading supplier of maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) products...
Paul Jabbour, CEO, Hoshan Pan Gulf
Hoshan Pan Gulf CEO Paul Jabbour sees a number of growth opportunities for his business in the year ahead...
Dave Jenkins, Managing Director, Waltons
The appointment this year of Dave Jenkins as Managing Director of leading South African reseller Waltons marks a significant change in direction for the company.
Kevin Johnson, Chairman, Warehouse Direct/Pinnacle Affiliates
Kevin Johnson was one of the founders of the Pinnacle Affiliates group for large dealers...
Shailesh Karwa, Co-CEO, Staples Future Office
India was meant to be a real growth driver for Staples and its International division, but after five full years in its current JV set up, Staples Future Office has fallen somewhat short of expectations...
Mikhail Kravtsov, Chairman, Pragmatic
Mikhail Kravtsov is new to the Top 100, though his company is not. He is Chairman of Russian reseller Pragmatic but has been living in San Diego, USA. Kravtsov says his “work history is divided by 1999...
Mike Lavelle, President/CEO, School Specialty
Mike Lavelle is the new kid on the block at School Specialty...
Steve Law, CEO, Lyreco
When Philippe Martinez’s short rein as Lyreco CEO came to an end last August, the office supplier turned to company veteran Steve Law. Law was part of the Office International team in the UK acquired by Lyreco in 1991 for £1...
Martin Leitgeb, Co-founder, ACTIVA
This year marks the 20th anniversary for Czech Republic-based reseller ACTIVA, the official importer and distributor of many brands in Eastern Europe...
Sid Lerman, President, The Weeks Lerman Group
The Weeks Lerman Group (TWLG) is the New York-based dealer established in 1995 from the merger of The Lerman Company and Weeks Office Products...
Michael Lewis, EVP/President of Retail, OfficeMax
Michael Lewis joined OfficeMax as EVP and President of Retail in May 2011...
Grégory Liénard, Managing Director Asia, Lyreco
Lyreco Asia Managing Director Greg Liénard called 2011 a year of "adjustments" for the region after the appointment of new managing directors in Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong...
Sean Macey, President, Basics Office Products
Canadian dealer group Basics Office Products – now in its 36th year – has used the recent period of economic uncertainty to focus on improving efficiency...
Johannes Peter Martin, Group Managing Director, Kaut-Bullinger
With a new Managing Director (Jürgen Diebold), a new shop opening and ongoing refurbishments at its flagship store in Munich, Kaut-Bullinger has had a challenging year from a retail perspective...
Steve Matyas, President, Staples Business Depot
Steve Matyas, Staples Business Depot’s first ever employee and President of the Canadian operation, has an eye for grasping opportunities...
Dianne McAteer, CEO, Office Products Depot
Dianne McAteer says the key focus for Office Products Depot in the year ahead is e-commerce and e-marketing.
Aidan McDonough, Managing Director, Integra Office Solutions
2012 marks the 15-year anniversary since the merger of Instat and the NDA resulted in the creation of UK OP dealer group Integra Office Solutions...
Leo Meehan, President/CEO, WB Mason
WB Mason is a somewhat unstoppable force, and has taken over from Staples as United Stationers’ biggest customer...
Mike Miles, President/COO, Staples
It’s certainly not an easy time for Staples President and COO Mike Miles, who has responsibility for Staples International...
Simon Moate, CEO, office2office
2011 was a big year for office2office (o2o) CEO Simon Moate. Last May, the company announced its four-year contract with dealer group Advantia...
Bud Mundt, Executive Director, AOPD
It’s been a good year for US dealer network AOPD...
Kevin Murai, President/CEO, SYNNEX
IT distributor SYNNEX had a successful fiscal year 2011...
Jay Mutschler, President, Staples Australia/New Zealand
The role of Staples Australia/New Zealand President brings Jay Mutschler back to the Top 100 list...
Jim O'Brien, SVP Marketing, SP Richards
In his 25th year with SP Richards (SPR), Jim O’Brien “continues to advance a strong agenda in support of independent dealers”...
Uwe Orgas, Managing Director, OTTO Office
Uwe Orgas has been at the helm of OTTO Office – subsidiary of the mighty c11.4 billion ($15 billion) German Otto Group – since its current format was cemented in 1997...
Roger Ortola, Manager Director, Groupe Buro+
French multi-channel player Buro+ (formerly SACFOM) marked 2011 by rebranding with a fresh logo and colour scheme, creating a single brand identity...
Theo Paphitis, Chairman, Ryman
Much of Ryman Chairman Theo Paphitis’ focus in 2011 centred on the rollout of his new lingerie chain Boux Avenue, but his 237-store stationery retail business has continued to operate resolutely in the face of difficult conditions on the British high street...
Seppo Parviainen, Operational Chairman of the Board, Managing Director, Nordic Office Alliance, Euro Toimistotukut
The Nordic Office Alliance (NOA) is the leading Scandinavian-Baltic purchasing alliance comprising seven businesses. In 2011, Sweden-based Frans Svanström left the group when it was bought by Office Depot Sweden...
Bruno Peyroles, CEO, Bureau Vallée
The growth story of French discount franchise chain Bureau Vallée continues unabated. A further 35 stores have opened since the end of 2010...
Cody Phipps, President/COO, United Stationers
Cody Phipps became CEO of United Stationers in May 2011, succeeding Dick Gochnauer...
Alexey Popov, General Manager, Bureaucrat
Bureaucrat is one of the leading distributors of integrated office solutions in the Russian market, and manufactures and sells various products and services...
Laurent Proy, Managing Director, Majuscule
It has been a busy 12 months at French reseller group Majuscule with continued productivity improvements at its warehouse and distribution facilities and the introduction of a new ERP system...
Bart Rentmeesters, Managing Director, Fiducial Office Solutions
Bart Rentmeesters took over as Managing Director of France’s number three contract stationer last autumn after Gérard Martin’s appointment to a group role.
Ferdinando Rese, President, Errebian
In a country bedraggled by the highest unemployment rates in a decade, it’s perhaps fitting that one of Italy’s largest contract stationers continued its massive salesforce recruitment programme last year...
Max Ritchie, General Manager, Office Choice
Max Ritchie is into his 14th year at Australian dealer group Office Choice and has been General Manager since 2005.
Ravi Saligram, CEO, OfficeMax
2011 was Ravi Saligram’s first full year in charge at OfficeMax and, as expected, he took steps to make his mark...
Ron Sargent, Chairman/CEO, Staples
“In 2011, Staples marked its 25th anniversary with $25 billion in sales,” says Chairman and CEO Ron Sargent...
Richard Scharmann, CEO, PBS Holding
It’s been a mixed bag for multi-channel player PBS Holding over the past year. While its contract B2B operations have been growing significantly in some countries...
Hans Schmid, President, Printus
Printus is a company that doesn’t spend much time talking to the press. Instead, it lets its results do the talking – revenues now stand at over c500 million ($666 million)...
Dieter Schmidt, Managing Director, Plate
Firmly rooted in northern Germany where it is the biggest B2B operator of its kind with revenues of over d100 million ($131 million)...
Steve Schmidt, President International, Office Depot
Steve Schmidt switched to Depot’s International division via a business development role last year...
Marc Schoettel, Managing Director, Lyreco Iberia
In 2012 Lyreco announced a new Managing Director of Iberia. Former Managing Director Carlos Perseguer has left the company “by mutual consent” with Frenchman Marc Schoettel joining on 12 March..
Jean-Yves Sebaoun, Managing Director, Spicers Continental Europe
Unipapel’s assertion that it would not rock the boat unnecessarily following its acquisition of Spicers Continental Europe (CE) is reflected in the appointment of Jean-Yves Sebaoun as Managing Director...
Todd Shelton, President, United Stationers Supply
Todd Shelton took over as President of United Stationers Supply in 2010. He has been with United some time, however...
Arnold Theuws, General Manager, Quantore
OPI readers are probably more familiar with the names Arnold Theuws and Quantore than last year, firstly because General Manager Theuws was the subject of the Big Interview in February and secondly because Quantore took home the title Dealer Group of the Year...
Rick Toppin, President/COO, SP Richards
With a comprehensive OP background, Rick Toppin is more than deserving of his place in our Top 100...
Rob Vale, President, Staples Europe
Europe has been somewhat of a labour of love for Staples since it crossed the Atlantic 20 years ago, with the challenges often outweighing the rewards...
Jan van Belleghem, Managing Director, Interaction
The growing importance of reseller and wholesaler private label ranges continues to work to the advantage of European group Interaction...
Thomas Veit, Co-founder/Managing Director, soft-carrier
There’s been a change at the top of IT, OP and consumables distributor soft-carrier. Following the departure of fellow Managing Director Michael Philippi in 2011...
Heikki Vienola, Managing Director, Wulff Group
Last year was a good year for Wulff, says Managing Director Heikki Vienola, a true industry veteran who has spent his entire career in office supplies...
Francesco Villa, General Manager, Gruppo Buffetti
Times are tough in Italy and retail sales in particular have seen a steady decline over much of last year, a trend only too familiar to Francesco Villa...
David Walmsley, Managing Director, Lyreco UK & Ireland
Dave Walmsley has been Lyreco UK & Ireland Managing Director for more than two years now, although his career at the reseller spans more than 20, including six years in the Scandinavian business. ..
Mark Ward, Managing Director, Officeworks
It was another challenging year for Mark Ward, Managing Director at Officeworks...
Jeff Whiteway, CEO, OfficeTeam
Record profits reported by contract stationer OfficeTeam in 2010 were followed up last year with annual EBITDA in excess of £17 million ($26.8 million)...
Stéphane Willa, CEO, Office World
It is almost two years since the largest OP retailer in Switzerland, Office World, and Peter Basci’s iba B2B business became sister companies following the latter’s integration into the Migros family...
Ralph Wouters van den Oudenweijer, Managing Director, Alpha International
European EOS distributor Alpha International has continued to progress following a record-breaking sales performance in 2010...
Events
OPI European Forum 2012
5 December 2012 - 7 December 2012 Grange St Paul's Hotel, London
An invitation only European CEO Forum taking place in London from 5-7 December 2012.
Paperworld 2013
26 January 2013 - 29 January 2013 Messe Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
