Layoffs Potentially Leave Forcepoint Channel Partners Hanging

In the aftermath of its acquisition by Francisco Partners, Forcepoint channel partners learned the company has laid off most of its North America channel team.

That’s according to a source at the company who talked with Channel Futures but wished to remain anonymous. About 10 channel employees have lost their jobs. That includes Mark Nehring. He was Forcepoint’s vice president of North America channel sales for more than two years.

Before Forcepoint, Nehring held channel leadership roles at Dell EMC, Oracle, Zones and HP.

The source confirmed that channel account managers (CAMs) who support large national partners were cut. In addition, the channel marketing team, and sales and marketing staff in non-channel roles lost their jobs.

The Austin, Texas-based company isn’t commenting on the layoffs.

Forcepoint channel partners include services partners, MSSPs and technology partners.

Francisco Partners is a global investment firm that specializes in partnering with technology and technology-enabled businesses. It closed its acquisition of Forcepoint in January. It bought Forecpoint from Raytheon Technologies.

Coinciding with the transaction close, Forcepoint‘s board of directors appointed Manny Rivelo as CEO. Rivelo is a former CEO of F5 Networks and AppViewX. He also held senior leadership roles at Cisco.

Rivelo succeeded Matt Moynahan, who had led Forcepoint since the business launched in 2016.

Forcepoint also announced two new executive appointments with the company becoming an independent entity. These include Dave Stevens as senior vice president of strategy and execution, and John DiLullo as chief revenue officer (CRO).

Additionally, Forcepoint promoted Sean Berg to president of global governments and critical infrastructure. Stevens, DiLullo and Berg will all report to Rivelo.