Juniper Systems Taps New Channel Exec

Juniper Systems has named Robert Davis as director of Business and Channel Development, tasked with finding new markets for the company and improving sales worldwide.

The vendor, which since 1993 has been making ruggedized, handheld computers, PDAs and tablets for use in challenging field data collection settings, has a unique niche as a specialist in proving field data solutions for people working in extreme conditions. DeVon Labrum, Juniper Sales and Marketing vice president, believes Davis’ experience — in particular his understanding of the rugged mobile computing market — will pay dividends to its channel sales expansion.

Labrum pointed, in particular, to Davis’ “extensive understanding of the rugged mobile computing industry, as well as the input he will provide towards strengthening and building Juniper’s distribution channels.”

Juniper maintains a channel partner program that includes dedicated sales and service support, marketing materials and cooperative, joint marketing assistance. Partners can sell the vendor’s Archer, Allegro MX, TK6000 systems and the Mesa Rugged Notepad, according to the company’s website.

Davis’ 15-year mobile technology background includes stints at Trimble Navigation as director of channel sales and marketing communications for its mobile computing unit, and director of sales at Televerde and Insight Enterprises. His specialty lies in bringing rugged handheld products to market.

“Juniper has long been a company I’ve admired as a leader and innovator in the rugged mobile computing world,” he said.

The ruggedized mobile computing market is viewed as stable, with growth expectations pegged in a range from 8 percent to 13 percent, based on Gartner‘s global report on the segment. However, according to the report, 2011 was a “year of change that saw ruggedized product vendors introduce new form factors and data collection elements to provide better choices and more information for application providers to further optimize the supply chain in new and existing markets.”

It sounds like Davis will have plenty to do in his new position.