Founder of Top Avaya VAR Dies

Dave Sherry, president and founder of Canada-based VAR Unity Telecom, has died.

The company said on Thursday that Sherry died on June 26; the cause of death was not announced.

Sherry founded Unity Telecom, which specializes in Avaya, Cisco, Panasonic and other IP platforms, in 2004. His widow, Erin Sherry, now serves as CEO of the company; she had been CFO of Unity Telecom since its inception.

Dave always thought of the company as his extended family choosing employees with care, encouraging independence, initiative and growth among all employees," said Erin Sherry in a prepared statement. "He was a true leader and an inspiring mentor who was always very proud of our teams work to make Unity a success."

Unity Telecom has facilities in every major Canadian city and one office in Arizona. In 2011, Avaya named the company its Unified Communications Partner of the Year and Marketing Partner of the Year.

Meantime, Randy Bergeron, formerly vice president of sales, has been named president of the company in the wake of Sherry’s death.