Avnet Honored as a Winner of Operational Excellence at 2008 Microsoft Channel Partner Summit

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Avnet Technology Solutions, an operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT), today announced it has won the Operational Excellence Award at the 2008 Microsoft Channel Partner Summit. The company was chosen out of the North American field of top Microsoft Partners for delivering market-leading operational excellence supporting Microsoft technology. The awards were distributed at a ceremony May 14, 2008, in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., at Microsoft’s Channel Partner Summit.

“We’re pleased to receive this accolade from Microsoft for the third year in a row,” said Dennis O’Connell, senior vice president of operations, Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas. “We attribute this win to Avnet’s unwavering focus on delivering the highest level of customer service and our ongoing commitment to operational excellence. Reducing red tape, streamlining processes and staying focused on customer needs help ensure we deliver value to our customers and to Microsoft.”

Winners were chosen from a pool of more than 29 entrants in the United States and Canada. Avnet was recognized for superior operational excellence, meeting or exceeding specific requirements for the number of valid agreements in a variety of categories, as well as the number of on-time and valid order submissions and revenue reconciliation. By meeting these operational criteria, winners have illustrated their commitment to providing value and customer satisfaction.

“We are pleased to recognize our top performing partners for their collaboration and achievement in facilitating customers’ software solutions with innovative and reliable operations,” stated Matt Rossmeissl, general manager for Microsoft Worldwide Commercial Operations. “The Operational Excellence award is an opportunity to reward our highest potential partners for their investments in growing our joint capabilities to serve customers.”

“Each year our partners are measured based on their level of operational excellence and end to end process performance. This award recognizes those partners who continuously raise the bar and strive to perform at a level enabling end customers to transact business with Microsoft in the most efficient, accurate and timely manner,” said Mary Ellen Smith, Microsoft’s general manager for the America Operation Center. “We value their focus to deliver operational excellence to our end customers.”

The Microsoft Licensing Operational Excellence Awards recognize Microsoft Partners that have developed and delivered operational excellence over the past year.