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                                                                     EXHIBIT 10A

                           CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT

This Change of Control Agreement (the "Agreement") is made effective as of the
1st day of March, 2001, between Avnet, Inc., a New York corporation with its
principal place of business at 2211 South 47th Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85034
Arizona ("Avnet" or "the Company") and Philip Gallagher (the "Officer"). Avnet
and the Officer are collectively referred to in this Agreement as "the Parties."

WHEREAS, the Officer holds the position of Vice President with the Company; and

WHEREAS, the Parties wish to provide for certain payments to the Officer in the
event of a Change of Control of the Company and the subsequent termination of
the Officer's employment without cause or the Constructive Termination of the
Officer's employment, as those capitalized terms are defined below;

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows:

1.    Definitions.

      (a)   "Change of Control" means the happening of any of the following
            events:

            (i)   the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the
                  meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act (a
                  "Person") of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule
                  13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more of
                  either (A) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the
                  Company or (B) the combined voting power of the then
                  outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote
                  generally in the election of directors; provided, however,
                  that the following transactions shall not constitute a Change
                  of Control under this subsection (i): (w) any transaction that
                  is authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company as
                  constituted prior to the effective date of the transaction,
                  (x) any acquisition directly from the Company (excluding an
                  acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion
                  privilege), (y) any acquisition by the Company, or (z) any
                  acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust)
                  sponsored or maintained by the Company or any entity
                  controlled by the Company; or

            (ii)  individuals who, as of the effective date hereof, constitute
                  the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Incumbent Board")
                  cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the
                  Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a
                  director subsequent to the effective date hereof whose
                  election, or nomination for election by the Company's
                  stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of
                  the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be
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                  considered as though such individual were a member of the
                  Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such
                  individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a
                  result of either an actual or threatened election contest (as
                  such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A
                  promulgated under the Exchange Act) or other actual or
                  threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf
                  of a Person other than the Board; or

            (iii) Approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete
                  liquidation or dissolution of the Company or the sale or other
                  disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the
                  Company.

      (b)   "Constructive Termination" means the happening of any of the
            following events:

            (i)   a material diminution of Officer's responsibilities,
                  including, without limitation, title and reporting
                  relationship;

            (ii)  relocation of the Officer's office greater than 50 miles from
                  its location as of the effective date of this Agreement
                  without the consent of the Officer;

            (iii) a material reduction in Officer's compensation and benefits.

      (c)   The "Exchange Act" shall mean the 1934 Securities Exchange Act, as
            amended.

2.    Constructive Termination or Termination after Change of Control. If,
      within 24 months following a Change of Control, the Company or its
      successor terminates Officer's employment without cause or by Constructive
      Termination, Officer will be paid, in lieu of any other rights under any
      employment agreement between the Officer and the Company, in a lump sum
      payment, an amount equal to 1.5 times the sum of (i) the Officer's annual
      salary for the year in which such termination occurs and (ii) the
      Officer's incentive compensation equal to the average of such incentive
      compensation for the highest two of the last five full fiscal years. All
      unvested stock options shall accelerate and vest in accordance with the
      early vesting provisions under the applicable stock option plans and all
      incentive stock program shares allocated but not yet delivered will be
      accelerated so as to be immediately deliverable. Officer shall receive his
      or her accrued and unpaid salary and any accrued and unpaid pro rata bonus
      (assuming target payout) through the date of termination, and Officer will
      continue to participate in the medical, dental, life, disability and
      automobile benefits in which Officer is then participating for a period of
      two years from the date of termination.
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3.    Miscellaneous. This Agreement modifies any employment agreement between
      Officer and the Company only with respect to such terms and conditions
      that are specifically addressed in this Agreement. All other provisions of
      any employment agreement between the Company and Officer shall remain in
      full force and effect.

AVNET, INC.


By      /s/ Raymond Sadowski
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Its     Senior VP & CFO
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Officer

        /s/ Philip Gallagher
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