The European Second Hand Software Company ReLicense Expands into Scandinavia - Appoints Director Nordic Region

Inning am Ammersee (Germany), March 14, 2018. The German Second Hand software company ReLicense AG is taking yet another substantial step in its Europe-wide expansion. In order to win and support customers in Scandinavia, ReLicense appointed Michael H. Vilain to the newly created position of Director Nordic Region. The Scandinavian Regional office is located in Copenhagen and started serving Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark on the 5th of March 2018.  

Harry Voortmann, CEO ReLicense AG, says: “We are glad to announce Michael H. Vilain for Scandinavia as one of the strategically important regions in all of Europe.  An IT and software sales executive with a proven track record with industry leaders, Michael is a substantial reinforcement of our European team. With his expertise in the enterprise software supply chain and partner sales, he will be a major contributor for the overall ReLicense success.”

Michael H. Vilain comments: “I am excited to join one of the market leaders in this fast-growing software segment in Europe and devoted to make my home Nordic region another growth driver of ReLicense.  Knowing the market, for me ReLicense was the natural next endeavor.”

The Danish native Michael H. Vilain (50) has 30 years of international experience in sales management for high-tech industry leaders in IT and computer software, both in enterprise and midmarket segments. He has successfully built up international software sales teams in direct as well as in indirect channels. Michael H. Vilain has earned a master’s Degree in economics from Copenhagen Business School.

The Market for Second-hand Enterprise Software

After the second hand software ruling of the European Court of Justice, on July 3, 2012, used software developed from a primarily German and UK, to a European market. Backed by ensured compliance, more and more companies choose to use the financial benefits, by selling their surplus licenses or buying second hand software at favorable prices. Since the benefits of used software can’t be neglected anymore, ca. 1 Billion € per year is the estimated financial advantage companies can achieve just with Microsoft second hand volume licenses, also large enterprises became part of the second hand software market. In the past small and medium companies (e.g. 50 -5.000 IT-clients)  dominated the demand and supply of second hand software. Large enterprises (e.g. 5.000 – 100.000 IT-clients) will further accelerate the growth and make used software licenses common place.

ReLicense AG was founded in 2008 by four shareholders with one hundred years of experience and management background in the IT industry. They had an early mover advantage in second hand software since 2005. Less than one year after foundation, ReLicense started to expand into further European countries. Today, ReLicense AG has customers in most countries of the European Union / European Economic Area. Speaking nine European languages on native or business level, experienced local resources serve Benelux, Central Europe, Italy, Poland, Scandinavia and UK. The coverage of France and Spain will be the next step in European expansion.

Media Contact: Dr. Walter Glogauer 0049-171-6145494