Ingram Micro CEO Inman Exits Abruptly : Resignation: Former IBM executive’s departure was prompted by differences with computer distribution firm’s co-chairman.

Wanted: One aggressive chief executive to take a $4-billion-a-year computer distribution company to $10 billion in annual sales.

Ingram Micro Inc. is looking for a new CEO after Sam Inman III abruptly resigned after nine months on the job as president and chief executive.

David Dukes, co-chairman of the Santa Ana-based computer distributor, said Monday that Inman resigned Thursday evening because of “differences in management philosophy” between Inman and Linwood A. (Chip) Lacy, the company’s co-chairman.

Inman, a 21-year veteran of IBM, joined Ingram in August, 1993, as president and chief operating officer. He was promoted to chief executive in the fall and Lacy was scheduled to become president of Ingram’s parent company in Nashville, Tenn., Ingram Industries Inc.

Now Lacy will resume day-to-day management of Ingram Micro and will once again split Inman’s duties with Dukes, who will manage the company’s contacts with suppliers and customers.

“I’ll continue to live on an airplane,” said Dukes, who lives in Orange County but was on the road most of last month.

Lacy has a reputation as an intense executive who knows the ins and outs of computer distribution, a high-stress, ever-changing industry that requires constant attention. He is often described in the same breath as both talented and intimidating.

No replacement for Inman is imminent, Dukes said.

“This is a really big gun we’re looking for,” he said. “Sam is a bright, high-quality individual. But there was a difference in philosophy. It’s hard to find the kind of person we’re looking for.”

Lacy and Inman weren’t available for comment.

In a given day, Ingram Micro will receive $15 million in orders from computer dealers in transactions that average $1,200 each. The company distributes everything from $20 video games to $25,000 computer workstations--souped up computers for engineers.

Two other executives left Ingram Micro in the past week, but Dukes said the departures were unrelated. Andy Rich left his post as vice president of human resources, and Bruce Martin, senior vice president of purchasing, left to take a job at computer reseller Intelligent Electronics.