Brocade appoints former NetApp exec to lead channel business

• Johnson Chiu to spearhead partner enablement strategies and programs in APAC
• Part of global strategy to focus on growing revenues through the channel

NETWORKING solutions provider Brocade has appointed Johnson Chiu as channel director for Asia Pacific, a role that would see him spearheading partner enablement strategies and programs designed to grow Brocade IP (Internet Protocol) networking revenues through channel partners across key industry segments.
 
The appointment is part of a global strategy to focus on growing revenues through the channel, and building on a strong and established channel business in the region, Brocade said in a statement.
 
According to research firm Canalys, the data center infrastructure market will be worth US$152 billion by 2016, with Asia Pacific (APAC) accounting for a quarter of global data center investment in five years, Brocade said.
 
This represents a significant opportunity for channel partners to leverage Brocade’s technology and financing solutions such as Brocade Ethernet fabric technology and Brocade Network Subscription respectively.
 
Chiu will be responsible for driving Brocade channel strategy with distributors, resellers and systems integrators across the region, and driving initiatives that are unique to partners here, to help them develop new skills and address major technology trends such as mobility, big data analytics and software-defined networking (SDN).
 
Chiu is based in Singapore and will report directly to Brocade’s vice president for Asia Pacific, Charlie Foo.
 
 “Johnson’s (Chiu) appointment is both a strategic and timely one as we continue to chart new growth across the region in tandem with the expected increase in worldwide IT spending in 2013,” said Foo. “(He) will play an instrumental role in furthering Brocade’s partner business success in APAC.”
 
An industry veteran with 27 years of channel leadership experience, Chiu was most recently with NetApp where he led the Channel, Alliance and Marketing organization in the Greater China region. He has also held channel leadership roles at Digital Equipment, Oracle, Symantec and Brocade.
 
“I am excited to rejoin Brocade at this important juncture to lead its partner business in APAC,” said Chiu.
 
“It is vital that the channels have the required capability and agility to move swiftly and adapt to technological changes, and I am looking forward to bolstering our channel partner enablement so as to deliver transformative networking innovations to our regional customers quickly.”
 
 
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