7 Channel People Making Waves This Week at 8x8, Palo Alto Networks, Datto, More
We feature a high-profile resignation at Rackspace, a Datto marketing hire, and a $250 million acquisition in the channel.
January 21, 2022
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It’s all in the name. For new cybersecurity company Trellix, the moniker evokes the structure of a trellis, a strong and safe framework used to support the growth of climbing plants and trees. Trellix’s framework rests on the merger of McAfee Enterprise and FireEye to form the new firm. The two companies were each sliding into industry irrelevancy and whether they can reinvent themselves is in question, one analyst told us. However, a fresh start could be the beginning of a healthy foundation.
Trellix CEO Bryan Palma made the week for his confidence in the new firm and its products.
“As today’s organizations push to achieve digital transformation, a strong security foundation is required to ensure continued innovation, growth and resiliency,” Palma said. “Trellix’s XDR platform protects our customers as we bring security to life with automation, machine learning (ML), extensible architecture, and threat intelligence.”
Read Edward Gately’s piece.
A new Forrester Consulting study commissioned by Dell Technologies reveals that 83% of organizations have adopted a multicloud approach or plan within the next 12 months.
Jeff Boudreau, president, Infrastructure Solutions Group, Dell Technologies, understands the complexity of the multicloud environment and the trend to adopt. This is the reason he made the week.
Boudreau said: “Today’s multicloud reality is complex as data becomes more distributed across on-premises and colocation data centers, multiple public clouds and edge environments. We have the industry’s broadest technology portfolio, consistent tools, experience building open ecosystems and leading data storage capabilities, services and supply chain. All this uniquely positions Dell to help customers take control of their multicloud strategy.”
Learn how Dell’s Apex Data Storage Services is expanding across Europe and Asia Pacific.
Dare to be different.
This is exactly why Carl Katz, vice president of partner sales and chief operating officer at TCG, landed on this week’s People Making Waves. In a Q&A with Channel Futures James Anderson, Katz explains that TCG refuses outside funding and avoids using market development funds (MDF) as a profit center to help the company stand out among its rivals.
“There are companies who started in technology, went to the large tech brokers and were nickeled and dimed to the point where they couldn’t even function,” Katz said. “That’s because it’s upward of six figures in sponsorship dollars to get any visibility with the channel managers and partners.”
Tell it like it is, Carl.
Read the rest of the interview.
If there’s one thing we know at Channel Futures, it’s that people love to read about money … who’s got it and who doesn’t.
One of this week’s most looked-at stories was that of 8×8 completing its $250 million Fuze acquisition. It’s possible that has less to do with the cash flow and more with what 8×8’s vice president of product and marketing, Meghan Keough, had to say about the channel. This is the reason Keough’s comments about the acquisition were highlighted this week.
“As we continue to support the Fuze platform, Fuze partners will also have significant cross-sell opportunities with 8×8’s omnichannel contact center to enhance employee and customer experiences, allowing channel partners to compete more effectively in today’s market … 8×8 looks forward to bringing more value to Fuze partners and customers.”
Learn how 8×8 plans to remain a key UCaaS/CaaS/CPaaS global player.
Feel-good hires are always popular at Channel Futures. One of the week’s most-read articles featured new Datto employee, Brooke Cunningham. After nearly six years of working for Splunk, Cunningham is now part of the Datto leadership team as CMO.
“The company’s core values, partner-first approach to business, and commitment to the MSP community and channel align very closely with the beliefs and outlook that have guided my career,” she said.
In all, Cunningham spent 23 years at data-related B2B software companies focused on driving partner business growth.
Read more about her vision for the Datto CMO role.
Coming in at this week’s second most-viewed story is the resignation of Rackspace’s global partner channel chief Michael Stephens.
“I came to Rackspace five-and-a-half years ago to build a world-class channel program for an industry leader in multicloud,” Stephens told Channel Futures. “I have eclipsed all the goals I set for myself, my team and the program, and now is a great time to step away and go find the next big challenge.”
The company has not yet named his successor.
He’s not the only recent high-profile resignation at Rackspace.
It always feels good to be on top. This week’s most-read story involved Palo Alto Networks and its recent ascension to the Nasdaq 100, the top 100 largest domestic and international non-financial companies on the Nasdaq exchange based on market capitalization. Edward Gately interviews Karl Soderlund, Palo Alto Networks’ senior vice president of worldwide channel sales, about this recent achievement and what’s in store for partners in 2022.
Spoiler alert: 2022 is going to be the year of automation when it comes to security operations, according to Soderlund.
It always feels good to be on top. This week’s most-read story involved Palo Alto Networks and its recent ascension to the Nasdaq 100, the top 100 largest domestic and international non-financial companies on the Nasdaq exchange based on market capitalization. Edward Gately interviews Karl Soderlund, Palo Alto Networks’ senior vice president of worldwide channel sales, about this recent achievement and what’s in store for partners in 2022.
Spoiler alert: 2022 is going to be the year of automation when it comes to security operations, according to Soderlund.
There are two security companies featured in this edition of Channel People Making Waves that couldn’t be more opposite. One seemingly rises from the ashes, a new firm formed from ones facing difficulties. Another is a highly regarded operation now part of the Nasdaq 100. The people we highlight from those companies both discuss innovation and resiliency in a world full of cyberattacks.
The other part of the People Making Waves This Week list is a compilation of individuals changing roles within their respective companies or leaving altogether. These always make for popular stories. In this case, one person resigned, and another got promoted.
And lastly, one person we quote just tells things like they are. Don’t miss TCG’s Carl Katz’s take on refusing outside funding. It sounds cliché, but it’s true: Katz kind of sticks it to the man.
Click through the slideshow above to see Channel People Making Waves This Week. It’s part of our top stories countdown for the week of Jan. 17-21.
Want to contact the author directly about this story? Have ideas for a follow-up article? Email Claudia Adrien or connect with her on LinkedIn. |
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