Managing director wants to change security vendor’s profile using investment from recent acquisition

The newly appointed UK managing director of Enterasys has promised to use the vendor’s recent privatisation as a platform for organic and acquisition-based growth.

Jeff Willis joined the networking security vendor in January from VAR Affiniti, where he was vice-president for sales. He plans to build a new reputation for the vendor.

Enterasys was acquired by private equity firms The Gores Group and Tennenbaum Capital Partners for $386m last year (CRN, 21 November).

Willis told CRN: “My objective is to change the Enterasys profile, because people have a dated view of us. The attraction for me was the Gores acquisition. The investment will create an exciting opportunity for Enterasys’ partners and customers.

“Gores sees Enterasys as a firm with great technology. It wants to invest in R&D and bring more products to market.”

Willis said Enterasys will continue to work 100 per cent through the channel in the UK with distribution partners Azlan and Sphinx.

Mark Hatton, managing director of distribution partner Sphinx, said: “The investment is positive. When Enterasys was a public company there was a certain degree of nervousness from the partner community to invest, but the acquisition has removed this.”

Hatton added that the additional Gores funds will see new products and channel programmes, with a secure foundation for Enterasys to build on.

Paul Salmon, head of national sales support at Enterasys reseller Siemens Communication, said: “The Gores investment is good news. It will strengthen Enterasys’ portfolio and allow investment into R&D.”

Salmon added that the appointment of Willis will enable Enterasys to work even more closely with partners and engage in contact with end-users.