The roots of comTeam date back to 1984. On 1 October of that year, seven IT and computer specialist retailers founded the member‑led cooperative COMTEAM GmbH & Co. KG in Lilienthal, Lower Saxony. Their aim was to pool purchasing advantages and jointly offer IT services. Over time, comTeam evolved steadily. During the 1990s, the focus increasingly shifted from the consumer market to the B2B segment. Service and support offerings, field sales activities and comprehensive support for business customers moved to centre stage. This development marked comTeam’s transformation from a traditional IT retail association into a network of IT systems integrators.
To secure a long‑term perspective and enable further growth, comTeam’s shareholders took a landmark decision in 2000 and sold their shares to ElectronicPartner. At the time, the buying group was looking to expand its IT portfolio and identified comTeam as a network characterised by strong partner loyalty and a solid market position. Hartmut Haubrich, co‑founder of the ElectronicPartner buying group, and then Management Team member Karl Trautmann travelled personally to Lilienthal to present the proposal, answer questions and build trust.
Since January 2001, comTeam Systemhaus GmbH has been an integral part and a brand of the buying group. Many employees were retained, some of whom remain with the organisation to this day. Silvia Habeck now heads Partner Management, Ulrike Foellmer is responsible for Supplier and Contract Management, and Stefan Heinkele moved to the ElectronicPartner headquarters, where he is responsible for Service Products and Environmental Affairs. “The decision to join ElectronicPartner was a crucial step in securing comTeam’s long‑term stability and future viability,” explains Silvia Habeck. “At the same time, we succeeded in preserving comTeam’s identity and cooperative spirit – something our partners continue to benefit from to this day.”
Over the past 25 years, comTeam has grown significantly – from around 100 partners prior to the acquisition to more than 800 independent technology companies nationwide today. The network supports its members with attractive purchasing conditions, intensive knowledge transfer, centralised services and comprehensive training and professional development programmes. Its service portfolio ranges from classic IT solutions to managed services.
Strategically, comTeam has continuously expanded its expertise. The acquisition of the Connectivity Group in the 2000s was followed by the merger with IT security specialist kiwiko in 2025. The overarching objective remains unchanged: to remain future‑focused, provide optimal support for partners and actively help shape the transformation of the IT industry.
Strong market visibility has also been a key factor in comTeam’s success. Even before joining ElectronicPartner, the network regularly exhibited at trade fairs and enjoyed an excellent reputation within the industry. Under the umbrella of the buying group, additional opportunities for participation emerged. In particular, during the 2000s, comTeam maintained a permanent presence at CEBIT, with a large stand in Hall 13.
As part of the ElectronicPartner cooperative group – which also includes brands such as EP:, MEDIMAX and the company WENDEpunkt – comTeam now looks back on 25 years of successful collaboration. Guided by the unofficial motto “Networking with heart”, one principle has always remained central: the people.
“Twenty‑five years of comTeam within the ElectronicPartner buying group stand for partnership‑based growth, trust and a clear focus on delivering value for our partners – then as now,” Sven Glatter concludes.
