Driving innovation through circular technology: How Simon Dunn is helping shape a more sustainable future

For Simon Dunn, innovation and sustainability have gone hand in hand throughout his career. 

As European Business Development Director of Ingram Micro Lifecycle, Simon has more than 25 years of experience in reverse logistics and the circular economy. What continues to motivate him is the opportunity to solve new challenges, create value for customers, and contribute to a more sustainable future.  

In an industry that is constantly evolving, Simon sees tremendous opportunities for people who are curious, adaptable, and excited by the pace of change. 

Building a career with purpose 

Simon's career has always been connected to the circular economy, a sector that continues to grow as organizations place greater focus on sustainability and responsible technology management. 

"The circular economy industry as a whole is still a relatively new industry. So that gives me the opportunity to be creative and to think differently, adopt new ideas, and be creative in my approach," says Simon. "It's linked quite strongly to sustainability and that's something that I feel quite strongly about." 

For Simon, that combination of innovation and purpose is what makes the industry so rewarding. Every day brings new opportunities to rethink traditional approaches and create solutions that benefit both customers and the environment.  

Innovating at global scale 

When Simon joined Ingram Micro Lifecycle, he was attracted by the scale of the organization and the opportunity to accelerate innovation across the Lifecycle business. 

"We have a huge scale within the business. We work with some fantastic customers. We have some really exciting, innovative technology to hand," he says.   

What stood out most was the ambition to continue evolving. 

"The organization wanted to change and wanted to look at how we develop and grow differently. And that was also very interesting for me."  

Being part of Ingram Micro also creates opportunities to collaborate with industry-leading customers and leverage expertise from across a global organization. 

"Being part of the wider Ingram Micro organization provides credibility, strength and depth," Simon explains. "We can tap into resources that wouldn't normally be available to an organization of our size."  

This combination of scale, expertise, and innovation enables teams to deliver solutions that help customers stay ahead in a rapidly changing technology landscape. 

Bringing circular innovation to new markets 

One of the most exciting developments within Lifecycle is how circular economy solutions are expanding beyond traditional technology categories. 

Historically, the industry has focused heavily on mobile devices. Today, organizations across a wider range of sectors are exploring ways to extend product lifecycles through repair, refurbishment, recommerce, trade-in, and upgrade programs.   

Simon highlights the small domestic appliance market as a great example of this transformation. 

"This market is really interesting and is going through a steep growth curve. They're starting to look at circularity, sustainable solutions, recommerce, repair, trade-in and upgrade."  

By applying proven approaches from the mobile sector to emerging markets, Ingram Micro Lifecycle is helping customers unlock new value while supporting more sustainable business models. 

"We've taken the playbook from our mobile technology space and applied it to this area and it's working really well," Simon says. "It's a new market, a new opportunity, and something quite exciting that Ingram Micro is leading."  

Making sustainability meaningful 

Sustainability is more than a trend. For many organizations, it has become a core business priority. 

That is why Lifecycle works closely with customers to support their environmental goals through practical, scalable solutions. 

"Most customers have a detailed roadmap to 2030 around carbon footprint and emissions," Simon explains. "We're working closely with partners through repair, refurbishment, recommerce and upgrade programs, as well as supporting services around packaging, operations and processes."  

This work enables organizations to reduce waste, maximize the value of technology assets, and support a more circular economy. It also gives employees the opportunity to contribute to initiatives that create meaningful impact for customers and communities alike. 

Growing through collaboration 

Innovation thrives when people share ideas, experiences, and expertise. 

Since joining the business, Simon has focused on increasing collaboration across Lifecycle teams throughout Europe. 

"We're collaborating more as a European team more now than ever before," he says. "There's best practice happening in different countries and we're trying to communicate those successes through case studies, team meetings and workshops."  

This collaborative approach creates opportunities for associates to learn from colleagues across different markets, develop new skills, and contribute to projects with international reach. 

It also reflects one of the biggest advantages of working at Ingram Micro: the ability to combine local impact with global opportunities. 

Why now is an exciting time to join 

For Simon, the future of Lifecycle is filled with possibilities. 

The business continues to invest in new services, emerging technologies, and customer-focused solutions designed to address the challenges of tomorrow.   

"We're working on new and emerging products and services. We're working hard to maintain our position as be a front-runner and an expert in that field," Simon says.  

He believes the people who succeed are those who embrace change, enjoy solving problems, and are motivated by continuous learning. 

"If you're creative and want to grow and develop, it's a great place to be." 

Let's shape tomorrow 

At Ingram Micro Lifecycle, innovation is helping create a smarter and more sustainable future. From reimagining product lifecycles to developing new customer solutions, associates are finding new ways to make an impact every day. 

If you're looking for a career where you can learn, grow, and help drive meaningful change at global scale, explore opportunities with Ingram Micro. 

Ready to help build the future of circular technology? Explore careers with Ingram Micro and discover how you can help Let's shape tomorrow.