Arizona State University's School of Global Studies Names Avnet Business Leader Ed Kamins to Advisory Board
PHOENIX -- The School of Global Studies at Arizona State University (ASU) announces that Ed Kamins, chief operational excellence officer of global technology distributor Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT), is joining its advisory board, the Director's Council. As a member of this board of experts and leaders, Kamins will have significant input in the development of research, education and engagement strategies for the emerging school. He will assist in fundraising, international internships, student mentoring, researchprojects and ways that academic research can be applied to global challenges.
'Ed has a wealth of real-world experience in international business, and we are delighted that he is a member of the advisory board for the ASU School of Global Studies,' said David Jacobson, director of the school and an ASU professor. 'Ed will be able to share his first-hand experience in structuring a business for the global economy; creating and managing an international team; and explaining the opportunities and challenges of global business. This type of expertise and guidance is critical to our unique concentration on global quality of life issues to find solutions for the most compelling issues of our time.'
With more than 30 years of business leadership experience, Kamins currently serves as chief operational excellence officer at Avnet, which has sales in approximately 70 countries. He guides global efforts to reduce costs, improve customer service and refine operational efficiencies. Prior to this, Kamins was Avnet's chief information officer. He also previously helped launch and run an Avnet operating group with revenues exceeding $1 billion. In addition to his career at Avnet, Kamins held several positions with startup organizations and worked at Digital Equipment Corporation, where he was responsible for the company's $1.5 billion channels business in North America. Currently, Kamins serves on the board of directors for Calence, a privately-held networking solutions provider, and InterDigital Communications (Nasdaq:IDCC), which designs, develops and provides advanced wireless technologies and products. He is also on InterDigital's audit, governance and finance committees.
'Business has truly become global, and it is imperative that tomorrow's leaders have a solid understanding of working in an international environment,' said Kamins. 'ASU's School of Global Studies is dedicated to ensuring its students graduate with marketable degrees and are prepared to meet the global challenges that lie ahead of them. I am thrilled to join the advisory board and contribute to the collective wisdom of the faculty and other board members.'
The School of Global Studies is a new initiative at ASU, designed to provide innovative approaches to global challenges, and to develop transdisciplinary perspectives across the social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities in both research and teaching. The school offers a unique approach and setting across a range of thematic areas. These include governance; migration; urban studies and natural resources; information technology and the market; violence; and the circulation of art, culture and intellectual property.
About Arizona State University
A comprehensive public metropolitan research university enrolling more than 63,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students on four campuses, Arizona State University (ASU) is transforming into a New American University of unique colleges, schools, departments, and research centers that comprise close-knit yet diverse academic communities that are international in scope. ASU champions intellectual and cultural diversity, and welcomes students from all fifty states and more than one hundred nations across the globe.
About Avnet, Inc.
Avnet enables success from the center of the technology industry, providing cost-effective services and solutions vital to a broad base of more than 100,000 customers and 300 suppliers. The company markets, distributes and adds value to a wide variety of electronic components, enterprise computer products and embedded subsystems. Through its premier market position, Avnet brings a breadth and depth of capabilities that help its trading partners accelerate growth and realize cost efficiencies. For fiscal year ended, July 1, 2006, Avnet generated revenue of $14.25 billion through sales in approximately 70 countries. Please visit www.avnet.com for more information.
MULTIMEDIA AVAILABLE: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=5239198
CONTACT:
Brodeur, for Avnet
Marcia Chapman, 602-808-1169 (Media)
E-mail: mchapman@brodeur.com