Ingram Micro New Zealand has been appointed Microsoft’s sole local Value Add Distribution partner for virtualisation and infrastructure management technologies as the pair seek to drive virtualisation solutions in the local market.The VAD programme, currently being rolled out globally, will see Ingram Micro and Microsoft working closely with resellers to grow or diversify their business in virtualisation. The programme is a partnership with distributors Microsoft identifies ‘as key to helping drive reseller awareness, capability and product knowledge of Microsoft’s virtualisation solutions’.Ingram Micro says together with Microsoft, it will help resellers drive growth by providing additional sales and marketing resources and tools such as Microsoft’s assessment and planning toolkit and virtualisation partner profitability kit.The deal is an expansion of Ingram Micro’s previous agreement with Microsoft and follows a similar partnership between Microsoft and Ingram Micro Australia.Jared Pedersen, Microsoft New Zealand SMB sales and marketing manager, says the two companies will work alongside resellers to help them identify new revenue opportunities and build their virtualisation and infrastructure management practices.Stuart Alexander, Ingram Micro’s general manager, solutions group, says the company continues to see ‘tremendous’ growth in virtualisation, infrastructure optimisation and management solutions. "Now we’re starting to see a second wave of investment from organisations that are already reaping the benefits of their first investments in these technologies and looking to go to the next level,” he adds.