Robert “Bob” Dutkowsky, the longtime technology executive who led Tech Data from 2006 to 2018, died at age 69 at his Florida home in May 2024. Colleagues remembered him both for championing technology distributors and resellers and for urging people to make time for family.
Who was Bob Dutkowsky?
Dutkowsky built a career across enterprise technology companies before taking the helm at Tech Data. He was born in early 1955 in Endicott, New York, studied industrial labor relations at Cornell University, and began his career as an IBM salesperson in 1977, according to CRN.
From IBM to Tech Data
At IBM, Dutkowsky became an executive assistant to CEO Lou Gerstner in 1993. He left in 1997 for EMC, where he served as executive vice president of markets and channels, overseeing worldwide sales, marketing and services. He also led Data General, an EMC unit whose AViiON storage products were sold through the channel.
His subsequent CEO roles included GenRad, J.D. Edwards and Egenera. CRN reports that he orchestrated GenRad’s $260 million sale to Teradyne in August 2001 and led J.D. Edwards’ $1.7 billion sale to PeopleSoft in 2003. He became Egenera’s president and CEO in 2004. Tech Data chairman and former CEO Steve Raymund selected him to lead the distributor in 2006.
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What did Dutkowsky do at Tech Data?
Dutkowsky led Tech Data through significant corporate changes. CRN reports that he led the 2017 acquisition of Avnet Technology Solutions and was a driving force behind Apollo Global Management’s acquisition of Tech Data in 2019. Tech Data and Synnex later combined to form TD Synnex; that later outcome should not be attributed to Dutkowsky alone.
His role in the industry makes more sense when viewed through the distribution model he described in a 2011 interview with PBS/WEDU. Tech Data bought technology from manufacturers and sold it to resellers, who then served smaller businesses. Dutkowsky said resellers also depended on the distributor for product breadth, technical help and guidance.
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“We buy products from companies like Hewlett Packard and IBM and Cisco and Oracle and Microsoft. And we sell them into small companies that then resell them to small businesses.”
In that archival interview, Dutkowsky described Tech Data as having $24 billion in sales and $100 million in daily sales at the time. Those are historical figures he gave in 2011, not current company statistics. The interview and transcript are available on PBS/WEDU’s memorial page.
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Why was he remembered as a defender of the channel?
“Fierce defender of the channel” was Steve Raymund’s characterization of Dutkowsky, not a formal title. In CRN’s reporting, Raymund said: “I think his legacy was as a guy who was a fierce defender of the channel and who played a long-term game to build value.”
The channel in this context is the network of distributors and resellers that connects technology manufacturers with business customers. Dutkowsky’s long tenure at Tech Data and his leadership in major company transactions form the business context for Raymund’s assessment; the description itself remains Raymund’s judgment.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How did colleagues remember him personally?
Colleagues described Dutkowsky as a mentor and a customer-focused leader. TD Synnex CEO Rich Hume, in a company remembrance quoted by CRN, called him “more than a business leader” and said he had been a mentor, friend and inspiration to the company, its community and the broader technology business-partner ecosystem.
Marty Bauerlein, chief consumer and commercial officer at D&H Distributing, recalled Dutkowsky’s advice about balancing work and family: “You only get one shot at being a father. And you know what? You better make it meaningful.” Bauerlein also remembered Dutkowsky’s closeness to his wife, Lorraine, and children, Kevin and Jennifer.
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When did Bob Dutkowsky die?
Dutkowsky died in May 2024 at age 69 at his Florida home, according to CRN and PBS/WEDU. The sources cited here establish the month, but not a precise calendar date.
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