Avakian assumes 3D helm as Luxford exits

Communications and networking integrator, 3D Networks, has brought on Nortel veteran, Nick Avakian, as its new CEO.

He replaces Chris Luxford, who has stepped away from his day-to-day duties as CEO in favour of working with change management consultancy, Aspire Group. Luxford, who was appointed CEO three years ago, will remain a non-executive director of 3D as well as a director of its NCS Computers division.

Avakian spent nearly 15 years with Nortel, most recently as Australian general manager for enterprise, before resigning in late 2006. He has spent the past 18 months consulting as well as being at home with the family.

“This year I decided it was time to get back into the industry as I’d missed the dynamics of it,” Avakian said. “I wanted to lead a business which had total business ownership and I saw a lot of potential at 3D – the company had been one of my biggest channels to market while I was at Nortel so I knew it well from day one. My Nortel relationship also makes it easier for me to be involved straight away.”

At the top of Avakian’s to-do list is leveraging 3D’s regional skills base to help move into the applications integration space. 3D Networks is part of the Planet One group across Asia-Pacific.

“I’ll be looking at how to transform the business and take the company from being a systems integrator into more of an applications and business processes provider,” he said. “The market is moving that way and the industry is going through a transition, so it’s about looking at how we can get ahead.”