Paul Cook, managing director of Acer UK, has announced his resignation today.

Speculation had been mounting as to his departure following the recent appointment of Semmy Levitt to the position of Acer UK's country manager. Levitt had been based in Italy as an Acer business manager before moving to the UK in January 2005 to head up the notebook division.

However, the official statement from Acer today claimed that Cook had resigned, sighting basic differences in the business model as the reason behind his decision.

Cook said in a statement: “Over the past four and a half years my team has made monumental effort and demonstrated high levels of commitment to take Acer to the number four position in the market. Naturally, Acer has its sites firmly fixed on taking the number one market position, but with current market uncertainties, it is fair to say that we have not entirely agreed on the business model necessary to achieve this. Therefore, I have decided that it is in the best interests of both the company and myself that I move on."

Walter Deppeler, deputy president of Acer EMEA said: “Paul’s efforts to expand the Acer brand into the UK market have reaped tremendous results. Since joining us in 2001, he has orchestrated a five-fold growth in UK sales, against a market that has grown well less than 10 per cent per year. We are saddened by his decision”.

An Acer representative told CRN that Cook had agreed to remain attached to Acer for the foreseeable future to ensure complete business continuity.

A channel source and close friend of Cook's told CRN: "I think he's ready for a new challenge and likewise Acer are probably ready for a new change of direction. Cook has done a great job at Acer and built good growth for them. Levitt has effectively been Cook's number two since he started his secondment in the UK. He is very focused."

laura_hailstone@vnu.co.uk