10 Things You Didn’t Know about Insight CEO Ken Lamneck

Insight Enterprises, founded in 1988, is one of the leading firms in business-to-business and information technology solutions for other companies. It is an Arizona-based Fortune 500 company, with a solid international presence. In fact, Insight has offices in 22 countries, and operates in over 200 countries and territories. Incumbent CEO of Insight, Ken Lamneck, came to the company in 2010.

Since this change of management, the company has greatly expanded and performed many acquisitions (such as BlueMetal and Datalink). Lamneck has also expanded Insight’s philanthropic contributions and public partnerships, improving the face of the company. Ken Lamneck may be a great CEO, increasing Insight’s power, profits, and presence. But he is more than just a savvy businessman. If you want to learn more about this stellar executive, please read on to learn about Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Ken Lamneck.

He Went to West Point

The United States Military Academy at West Point is the quintessential school for military officer preparation. It is also a huge honor to get accepted here, as they only take the top students in the country. Ken Lamneck attended West Point, with most of his studies being in a technical field. He received a bachelor’s degree (and later went on to get an MBA from the University of Texas).

He Joined the Army

After graduating from West Point, he went on to serve his mandatory five years as a commissioned officer in the United States Army. Due to his field of study, he worked in a technical field. Lamneck actually helped to develop the software used in what is now known as the Patriot Missile System.

He Started Out at IBM

After leaving the military, Lamneck decided to continue with his technical duties at IBM. He served here as an engineer for some time, but eventually decided that he would rather be in sales and marketing. However, one cannot dismiss the effect that working as an IBM engineer had on his career – he worked for several tech companies, including Arrow Electronics, Denver’s Industrial Computer Products, and Tech Data Corporation. And of course, Insight Enterprises.

He Recognizes the Need for Technology Education

Perhaps not surprisingly for a man in his position, Ken Lamneck has a strong belief that tech education should be central to modern education. Students make constant use of technology – but don’t fully appreciate its power. Hence, Lamneck has promulgated an increasingly tech-based curriculum, providing students with knowledge that will be crucial in succeeding in the world of the future.

He Is Progressive

Ken Lamneck has advocated for public policy change and updates to reflect the needs of 21st-century workers. He desires an increased focus on job retraining programs, workforce skills development, and lifelong learning. The idea is that such programs will help older workers adapt to the new jobs that are being created every day – without being left in the dust, working in a legacy field.

He Wants Millennial Employees

The savvy CEO is atypically in-tune with the needs of his younger employees. He recognizes that millennials must be offered diverse opportunities, be invited to collaborate with higher-ups, and have their voices amplified in the company. Thus, he has somewhat altered company culture to embrace millennials – which they will reward with loyalty to the firm.

He Has a Smart Acquisitions Strategy

It is no secret that Insight Enterprises frequently acquires smaller companies to build up their own infrastructure. However, Ken Lamneck has stated that there is a specific method to these constant purchases. Lamneck believes that strategic acquisitions should be made to acquire key employees – not assets, but people – who have useful or uncommon skills. He believes that it is better to employ people that know these skills front-to-back than to retrain one’s entire team.

He Was the Driving Force Behind a Rebrand

The multinational firm began their rebranding process in June 2015, with the main goal of adjusting their focus on customer relations and interaction. Ken Lamneck was the main man behind it. He believed that after 27 years with the same branding strategy, that the firm was due for an update. The company culture now revolves around hunger (getting new clients), heart (a focus on the people and philanthropy), and harmony (the whole team working together flawlessly).

He Stays Involved with the Executive Hiring Process

Ken Lamneck knows that it is the team that makes a business. Hence, he refuses to be an enigmatic CEO, and always personally interviews those coming into executive positions. Plus, he puts a lot of weight on a person’s references. This ensures that he only hires people that will be an excellent fit for the position, and will continue to expand the company and increase profits.

He Believes in Constant Communication

Insight Enterprises is a company that revolves around airtight delivery of products and services. Therefore, Ken Lamneck must be sure that his employees know their jobs inside-and-out. He will talk with anyone (from the lowliest of accountants to high-tier sales managers) about their job, giving them any necessary instruction to improve the company. Plus, he always tries to talk face-to-face or by telephone – though he also uses videos to communicate his messages.