CLEARWATER, Fla., June 1, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tech Data Corporation (Nasdaq:TECD) today announced that Joanne Persinger, senior vice president, IT Americas and Jill Hayward, director of Sales, Major Accounts have been named to The Channel Company's prestigious 2015 CRN® Women of the Channel list. The annual list honors outstanding female executives across vendor channel organizations, distributors, solution providers and other women prominently involved in the IT channel ecosystem for their successes and the far-reaching impact they are having on the technology industry going forward.

Persinger was promoted to senior vice president, IT Americas in March 2015. In this role, she is responsible for the innovation portfolio, technology and business systems that enable and advance the region's business operations, including the e-business systems that support Tech Data's customers and vendor partners. Persinger joined Tech Data in 1989 and has progressed through positions of increasing responsibility in the Sales, Product Marketing, Logistics and Information Technology organizations, most recently serving as vice president, Information Technology since 2001. She is also the executive sponsor of Tech Data's Diversity & Inclusion Council. Persinger holds a bachelor's degree in Marketing from the University of West Florida and an MBA from Florida State University.

"Joanne has been tremendously influential as she has led teams across many divisions at Tech Data," said John Tonnison, executive vice president and chief information officer at Tech Data. "Her leadership in IT, including her dedication to the success of the SAP module rollouts in the U.S., was invaluable. I am proud of Joanne's growth, success and partnership, and we are all delighted to see her impact recognized and honored in this public and much deserved manner."

Hayward has served as director of Sales, Major Accounts since 2010. In this role, she leads the strategic direction of the Major Accounts sales division, focused on growing the business of existing solution providers and developing new business for the company. Additionally, Hayward is one of the founders of Tech Data's first employee resource group for women. In 2014, Hayward was named Tech Data's Director of the Year. She holds a bachelor's degree in business management from Eckerd College.

"Jill is a strong leader with proven success in both product marketing and sales," said Marty Bauerlein, senior vice president, U.S. Sales at Tech Data. "In addition to her responsibility for Tech Data's largest customers, Jill is a consistent participant in our mentoring program and has taken a leadership role in our development of female executives. I'm proud to congratulate her on this well-deserved recognition."

This year's Women of the Channel were carefully reviewed and selected by the editors of CRN based on their accomplishments and the influence they wield over the technology channel.

"These executives have made a lasting mark on the industry, expanding the breadth of influence in the technology channel," said Robert Faletra, CEO, The Channel Company. "We congratulate the Women of the Channel, and celebrate their innovative contributions and commitment to the IT channel community."

The Women of the Channel will be featured in the June issue of CRN and online at www.CRN.com.

About Tech Data

Tech Data Corporation is one of the world's largest wholesale distributors of technology products, services and solutions. Its advanced logistics capabilities and value added services enable 115,000 resellers to efficiently and cost effectively support the diverse technology needs of end users in more than 100 countries. Tech Data generated $27.7 billion in net sales for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2015. It is ranked No. 111 on the Fortune 500® and one of Fortune's "World's Most Admired Companies." To learn more, visit www.techdata.com, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About The Channel Company

The Channel Company, with established brands including CRN®, XChange® Events, IPED® and SharedVue®, is the channel community's trusted authority for growth and innovation. For more than three decades, we have leveraged our proven and leading-edge platforms to deliver prescriptive sales and marketing solutions for the technology channel. The Channel Company provides Communication, Recruitment, Engagement, Enablement, Demand Generation and Intelligence services to drive technology partnerships. Learn more at www.thechannelcompany.com.

CONTACT: MEDIA CONTACT
         Amanda Lee
         Public Relations Manager
         (727) 538-5803
         amanda.lee@techdata.com

Tech Data Corporation Logo