Industry Veteran Steve Church to Lead Avnet’s Operational Excellence Initiative

Global technology distribution and services company Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT) today announced the appointment of Steve Church to serve as the company’s Chief Operational Excellence Officer, effective immediately. He now reports to Avnet Chief Operating Officer Rick Hamada and leads Avnet’s global efforts to implement process and system improvements to achieve cost savings, reduce cycle times, enhance customer service and advance operational efficiencies. In addition to Avnet’s Operational Excellence team, Avnet Corporate Communications will continue to report to Church. He succeeds Ed Kamins, who recently retired.

Previously, Church served as Avnet’s Chief Human Resources Development Officer, where he created and developed a strategic program focused on attracting and developing talent, engaging employees and enhancing Avnet’s people development practices. As announced separately, MaryAnn Miller succeeds Church as Chief Human Resources Officer.

"Avnet’s pursuit of operational excellence remains vital to our long-term success,” said Hamada. "Steve’s business experience and acumen combined with his proven ability to engage employees is a distinctly valuable combination. In his new role, Steve will further foster Avnet’s culture of excellence to consistently strive for continuous improvement in our execution and process innovation.”

Church has held a variety of leadership positions during his 18-year career at Avnet, including serving as president of Avnet Electronics Marketing, Americas and co-president of Avnet Electronics Marketing, global. Prior to joining Avnet, Church held management positions with Signetics (now NXP) and Schweber Electronics.

Additionally, Church serves on the boards of advisors for Texas A&M University's Industrial Distribution Program and Arizona State University's Center for Services Leadership at the W.P. Carey School of Business. In December 2003, he was honored by the Professional Association for Industrial Distributors for his outstanding support and dedication to the industrial distribution program at Texas A & M University. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cal Poly Pomona.

About Avnet

Avnet, Inc., a Fortune 500 Company, is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded technology serving customers in more than 70 countries worldwide. Avnet accelerates its partners’ success by connecting the world’s leading technology suppliers with a broad base of more than 100,000 customers and providing cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended June 28, 2008, Avnet generated revenue of $17.95 billion. For more information, visit www.avnet.com.

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