Extreme Taps Global Sales Head, Eyes Physical Security

Extreme Networks (NASDAQ: EXTR) has named Nancy Shemwell, a 20-year industry veteran, to head its global sales efforts, directing the vendor’s sales and channel management teams and eyeing expansion in the cloud, data center, enterprise campus and mobility markets, company officials said.

Shemwell’s background includes a two-year stint as chief executive at Multi-Link, a telecom device maker; Symmetricom global sales executive vice president; and, most prominently, a 16-year tenure at Nortel Networks, holding titles of president of Micom Communications (a Nortel data subsidiary) and vice president business segments and vice president sales and marketing at Wiltel (Nortel’s largest distributor). Shemwell’s business reputation is based on her proven ability to grow revenue and profit, Extreme said.

According to Extreme’s 8-K SEC filing, Shemwell’s annual compensation could approach some $487,000, along with a one-time option grant to purchase 250,000 shares of Extreme’s common stock and a similar option for 100,000 restricted stock units. Shemwell will report to Oscar Rodriguez, Extreme president and chief executive, who said that she brings “leadership skills, relationships and proven sales experience that can help us drive towards our revenue and operating income goals.”

Rodriguez, who joined Extreme a little over two years ago, has remade the networking vendor’s executive suite, adding David Ginsburg as senior vice president, Strategic Marketing in November 2010; Gavin Cato as vice president, Engineering in June 2011; Theresa Caragol as vice president, Worldwide Channels this past April; and, John Kurtzweil as CFO this past May. In late August, Extreme promoted Carlos Perea to vice president, Latin America Sales and earlier this month, Frank Blohm, a 10-year Extreme veteran, was promoted to senior vice president, Customer Service, Operations, Quality and IT.

New Ethernet-Based Physical Security

Extreme also rolled out an Ethernet-based physical security network solution to simplify operations associated with networked physical security systems, such as integrated alarms, IP surveillance cameras and door locks, while lowering costs associated with installation, operations and on-site maintenance. The company said it expects to deliver the solution in conjunction with partners.

The vendor’s physical security solution, which includes its Summit X440, Summit X460 and Summit X670 switches powered by its Extreme modular OS, supports surveillance and perimeter security, intelligent buildings, traffic cameras, equipment alarms and tracking.

The opportunity for channel partners lies in optimizing the software embedded in the OS to automate tasks such as camera and device discovery, configuration, authentication, power management and network policy assignment to meet customer needs.