Kaseya vs. N-able In Australia: Story or No Story?

Kaseya threw a surprise punch at N-able in Australia. But was it really a significant blow — or just a PR stunt? At first glance, the “story” involves Kaseya recruiting an “instrumental” employee away from N-able. But I think the real story involves intensifying competition between the two companies in the land down under.

Here’s the background: On Dec. 9, Kaseya issued a media statement with a rather strong headline that stated: “Kaseya Snags Top N-able Sales Representative”

So who is this mystery person? A hot shot executive VP? A regional business director? Actually, the “news” involved former N-able Australia account representative Jered Seivenpiper jumping to Kaseya as a senior sales executive. According to a Kaseya press statement:

Now for the flip side of the “story.” Seivenpiper was basically a telesales specialist, according to N-able VP of Sales Mike Cullen, who thinks the Kaseya media statement essentially confirms N-able’s own momentum  in Australia.

I tend to agree.

No disrespect toward Seivenpiper, but I don’t think a mid-level employee making the move from one company to another warrants a big press alert.

Competition Intensifies

Still, the press alert does reinforce a key point: For more than a year, Kaseya and N-able have been locked in a managed services ground war in Australia. I sense that Kaseya has a market share lead in Australia, but N-able has also gained critical mass. Cullen says sales in the region are exceeding N-able’s internal goals.

Meanwhile, plenty of other MSP software companies are moving in — which means competition will further intensify… That’s great news for VARs and aspiring MSPs who are looking for hand holding from their software providers.

If you read this blog regularly, you know I respect Kaseya Australia and New Zealand Regional Director Tim Dickinson. I spoke at a series of Kaseya- and Intel-hosted Australia events in 2008. I certainly respect Cullen’s efforts at N-able as well. Regular MSPmentor readers know Cullen has made a series of business trips to Australia — engaging with hundreds of VARs and MSPs.

If Dickinson ever jumps from Kaseya to N-able, or if Cullen ever jumps from N-able to Kaseya: Somebody please alert MSPmentor. But in the meantime, I’m curious to see if Seivenpiper makes an instrumental impact at Kaseya.

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