Avnet, Inc. is one of the world's largest distributors of electronic components and embedded solutions and is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. Although the corporation's products have been an important part of computer networking, the corporate name is neither an acronym nor a coined word, and dates from nearly a century ago, when it was founded by Charles Avnet in 1921. After its start on Manhattan's Radio Row, the company became incorporated in 1955 and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange in 1961. Avnet currently ranks #108 on the Fortune 500 and #414 on the Fortune Global 500, reporting FY 2017 revenues of $17.4 billion.

In 1921, Charles Avnet, a 33-year-old Russian immigrant, began buying surplus radio parts and selling them to the public on the Radio Rows of United States port cities. As radio manufacturing grew, parts distribution took off. In the mid-1920s, when factory-made radios began to replace radio parts, he adjusted his distribution pipeline and began selling parts to manufacturers and dealers. In the mid-1920s, Avnet diversified by branching out into car radio kits and automobile assembly kits. During the Great Depression, he shifted the focus from retailing to wholesaling.

During World War II, Avnet made antennas for the U.S. armed forces. Charles's son, Lester, joined the business at that time. After the war was over, Avnet focused on buying and selling surplus electronic and electrical parts.

Avnet's business thrived during the 1950s Korean Conflict and launch of the U.S. space program, as Charles, along with his sons Lester and Robert, assembled electric connectors for missile systems, airplanes, and other military applications. In 1955, Avnet Electronic Supply Company was incorporated with a primary business of selling capacitors, fasteners and switches. In 1956, the corporation opened a second connector assembly plant near Los Angeles specifically for the aircraft industry. Three years after it incorporated, the company changed its name to Avnet Electronics Corporation, and went public on the American Stock Exchange the following year.

In 1960, Avnet made its first acquisition, British Industries Corp., an audio equipment company. With this acquisition, it began selling die casting machines, guitars, and television antennas, and earned a spot trading on the New York Stock Exchange. In the mid-1960s, the company briefly owned several record labels including Liberty Records and Blue Note. Avnet also acquired guitar manufacturer Guild Musical Instruments in 1965, where a Guild Starfire 12 guitar was presented to Beatles legends John Lennon and George Harrison.

Over the course of the decade, Avnet expanded with several acquisitions:

These acquisitions expanded the company into the new fields of semiconductors, relays, and potentiometers. In 1964, the company renamed itself again as Avnet, Incorporated. Founder Charles Avnet died that same year, and his son Lester became president and chairman.

In 1970, Lester Avnet died and was succeeded by Simon Sheib as chief executive officer. Sheib, along with Anthony Hamilton, president of the Hamilton Electro Corporation acquisition, combined the two companies to form Hamilton/Avnet, which eventually became Avnet Electronic Marketing Group, led by Hamilton. The combine shifted its strategy during this time to focus on sales, warehouse and stocking facilities, product development, and expanding markets, and became the first distributor of semiconductors, integrated circuits, and microprocessors.

In 1973, Avnet became Intel Corp.'s first distributor, solidifying Avnet's place in the computer business. Together, Avnet and supplier Intel began selling computer peripherals, complete systems, and software. In 1979, Avnet hit $1 billion in revenue for the first time.

Under the leadership of CEO Tony Hamilton, Avnet grew its computer lines business by purchasing Sertech and FMI in the custom chip and microcircuitry business. The 1980s also saw the creation of the Avnet Development Laboratories to prefect new satellite and cable television equipment. Hamilton led Avnet until his death in 1988, when he was succeeded by Leon Machiz, founder of acquisition Life Electronics Sales.

By 1993, Avnet had streamlined more than 100 storage facilities into just three warehouses. Inventory and purchasing in these warehouses were computer-controlled. At the time the largest distributor in the country, Avnet then acquired the third largest distributor, Hall-Mark Electronics Corporation, for $344.6 million. With this acquisition, Hamilton/Avnet combined with Hall-Mark to form Hamilton Hallmark. Avnet's computer business gained new suppliers at this time, including Hewlett-Packard, Digital Equipment, NCR, Seagate, and Okidata. The acquisition also made Avnet the only U.S. distributor to carry all of the top five American semiconductor lines.

In the early 1990s after pressure from suppliers and customers, Avnet acquired four European distributors to mark its first global expansion: F.H. Tec Composants of France, Nortec AB of Scandinavia, Access Group of Great Britain, and Electronic 2000 AG of Germany.

In 1998, Roy Vallee entered as CEO and chairman, the same year that the company relocated its corporate headquarters to Phoenix (from Great Neck, NY). Under Vallee's tenure, Avnet acquired more than 60 companies and grew globally. Avnet launched their first global warehouse in 1999, where customers around the world could track their order status.

Avnet operated under the slogan "Accelerating Your Success" during the 2000s

In July 2010, the company purchased Bell Microelectronics for $631 million, at the time the largest acquisition in the company's history. In July 2011, CEO Roy Vallee retired, and then-COO Richard Hamada was appointed CEO.

In Sept 2016, Tech Data purchased Avnet's Technology Solutions for $2.6B. In October 2016, the company purchased Premier Farnell for $691M.

Industry analysts at eStoreInfo say the key to Avnet's long-term success is its supply chain management solutions, which include forecasting component demand, distribution management, Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) and Just in Time delivery.

CEO leaders since the 1970s for Avnet have included Tony Hamilton, Leon Machiz, Roy Vallee, Rick Hamada and William Amelio(current).

In September 2016, Tech Data Corporation announced that it had entered into an agreement acquire the Technology Solutions operating group from Avnet, Inc. in a stock and cash transaction valued at approximately USD $2.6 billion. Under the terms of the agreement, Avnet received at closing approximately $2.4 billion in cash and 2.785 million shares of Tech Data common stock, representing an approximate 7 percent ownership position in Tech Data.

Chief Executive Officer leaders since the 1970s for Avnet have included:

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