V.S. Hariharan, Managing Director and Group CEO, Redington.
Celebrating 25 years in the Middle East and Africa, Redington sets its sights on AI, cloud, and localised expansion to power the region’s next wave of digital transformation.
Standing on the stage at La Perle, Dubai, in front of a packed house of global technology vendors, strategic channel partners, and senior leadership, V.S. Hariharan, Managing Director and Group CEO, Redington, marked a defining milestone: 25 years of Redington’s journey in the Middle East and Africa. The Redington ReInspire 2025 event wasn’t just a celebration of the past—it was a springboard into the future.
In a candid conversation on the sidelines of the event with Tahawultech.com, Hariharan unpacked the company’s strategic evolution from a category-focused distributor into a powerhouse delivering integrated, scalable technology solutions across the MEA region. “When I reflect on our journey, I see four dimensions that shaped our transformation—geography, business categories, brands, and channel partners. Each played a critical role in how we built and sustained momentum,” he said.
Starting with printers and later expanding into PCs, servers, mobility, cloud, and now AI, Redington’s business has evolved in tandem with the needs of the market. The UAE and Saudi Arabia, once entry points, are now billion-dollar markets for the company, while Africa continues to emerge as a growth frontier.
“Redington was never just about distributing boxes. Every new category we embraced was an opportunity to create new value for our ecosystem—and to stay ahead of the curve,” Hariharan noted.
At the heart of this success lies the company’s symbiotic relationship with thousands of channel partners and an impressive portfolio of global technology brands. But Hariharan was quick to credit the team behind the scenes.
“A majority of our leadership and core teams have been with Redington for over two decades. That kind of continuity and trust doesn’t just drive growth—it defines culture,” he said. Looking ahead, Hariharan is sharply focused on enabling the next wave of digital transformation, led by cloud, AI, and everything-as-a-service models. But rather than competing with global integrators, Redington is taking a different route.
“We’re investing in competencies so we can uplift our partners. Whether they come from a hardware or cloud background, we help them scale horizontally. Our goal is to multiply—not replace—their capabilities,” he explained.
This partner-led multiplier model reflects the company’s ethos of democratising technology. As governments and enterprises in the region accelerate investments in AI and digital infrastructure, Redington is positioning itself as a vital enabler.
With strongholds in the UAE and KSA, the company is now eyeing deeper regional penetration across the Levant, North Africa, and East Africa. Localisation, compliance, and adaptive business models are at the core of this expansion strategy.
“Africa is the opportunity of the future. But it demands a long-term view and a localised approach. We want to build not just a presence—but a purpose—in every market we enter,” said Hariharan.
When asked about the UAE’s growing prominence in global technology circles, Hariharan was unequivocal.
“Dubai has become one of the world’s most desirable destinations for talent, investment, and innovation. We’re already working on setting up an AI Centre of Excellence here to contribute meaningfully to the national AI agenda,” he revealed. As Redington charts a course toward a $10 billion regional business, its mission remains anchored in shared growth, technology democratisation, and ecosystem empowerment.
“We’ve always believed that our success must elevate everyone around us—our brands, our partners, and our people,” Hariharan concluded.
