thebiginterview
CHANGING HANDS AT KINGSTON
After 29 years, Ann Keefe, regional director UK & Ireland at Kingston Technology is retiring. Her role will be taken by Iwona Zalewska, the former DRAM business manager, whose own tenure at Kingston has been 13 years. We talked to Ann and Iwona about their experiences working for such a well- established company and their plans for the future.
Iwona Zalewska What inspired you to take on
this role? I have already been with Kingston for a long time, so my inspiration has come from everyone around me and a desire to build on the foundations Ann has established. We are an ambitious team, working towards a common goal of achievement. Tis includes building the already strong relationships we have with partners and vendors in the UK and globally. Te region is successful, but we’re making little changes due to how technology is evolving.
What are your primary goals and objectives for the UK region? We want to expand Kingston’s footprint across key markets and align ourselves with our customers goals. Tis will help us to meet their needs, so collaboration is the way forward for our region. Relationships are very important to Kingston as you can tell from
Ann’s responses. I’ve been lucky working in the UK for over ten years, so I have had the pleasure to meet and get to know a lot of customers already. I have learnt from Ann’s example, and we both feel that our partners are not just customers, but friends.
What strategies will you implement to support channel partners? We pride ourselves on offering a personal touch, having flexibility, and delivering something that other vendors don’t. We go the extra mile. Ann talked about how processes have changed over the years, and my approach will be to simplify those processes and ensure business is as smooth as possible for partners.
12 | March/April 2025
How do you see the role of DRAM and memory solutions evolving in the EMEA market? I believe there will be growth, primarily due to new technologies. AI will be a big factor, as will cloud computing, and demand will come from data centres. We’ll meet this with our server and storage solutions, but it also means putting extra emphasis on our system integration business where we already have built great relationships.
What are your thoughts on the future of Kingston Technology and its position in the global market? Te future is bright. Were a global leader in memory and storage, and we’re adaptable and innovative as a company. We have strong R&D support, and we’re at the forefront of emerging technologies with more coming this year. We pride ourselves at being not only a trusted partner but a more fundamental support and knowledge-centre to our partners. Education is very important, and we position ourselves as a trusted advisor. Because of customer-centric approach, we have built long lasting relationships, and my plan is to continue to nurture these to drive long-term success.
Te final word comes from Bernd Dombrowsky, Kingston’s EMEA VP sales & marketing to whom both Ann and Iwona have reported for some years: “We’re lucky that Iwona Zalewska is taking over as regional director for the UK and Ireland with the same attitude and solid track record. She has shown her skills as an Account Manager, a member of our senior Sales Management team and our EMEA DRAM Business Manager, contributing to the ongoing success of our partners in many countries. Tose that meet her now will experience continuity and professionalism and the special Kingston touch. If that’s you, I hope you’ll see your relationship with our brand being built on commitment.”
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