Sandra Glaser Cheek Out As Brocade's Channel Chief

After running the channel charge at Brocade Communications and Ruckus Wireless, Sandra Glaser Cheek is no longer with the company, Brocade confirmed to CRN.

"Sandra Glaser Cheek has been a dynamic leader for the global channel and partner programs at Brocade and we wish her well in her new venture," said Ian Whiting, chief commercial officer for Ruckus, in a statement to CRN.

Glaser Cheek, a 20-year channel veteran and winner of CRN's 2016 Channel Madness Tournament Of Chiefs, was appointed vice president of worldwide channels for Brocade in January. She was previously vice president of worldwide channels at Ruckus Wireless before it was acquired by Brocade last year for $1.2 billion. She also has held top channel executive positions at Extreme Networks, VMware and Adobe Systems.

[Related: Brocade Continues To Shed Assets And Staff, Sells Virtual Packet Core Business To Mavenir]

Glaser Cheek did not respond to a request for comment by press time.

Brocade-Ruckus is set to be acquired by Broadcom this fall for $5.9 billion; Broadcom plans to then sell Ruckus and its IP networking business to Arris International immediately.

One source familiar with the matter said there wasn't a global partner or marketing position available for Glaser Cheek at Arris.

"When they merged into Arris, there really wasn't a global marketing position, which is interesting," said the source, who did not wish to be named. "I think Sandra was in the right position and didn't have enough time to develop it. … She didn't have a chance to demonstrate a global position and a global role, because if you're told that your company is morphing and changing, but you haven’t been told what it's going to look like, it's [difficult] to be able to develop good messaging."

Arris did not respond to a request for comment by press time.

Raelyn Kritzer will take over Glaser Cheek's responsibility and lead Ruckus' global channel strategies, according to Brocade's Whiting. Kritzer is currently senior director for worldwide partner programs and enablement at Brocade. She's been with Brocade for 16 years in various partner marketing executive roles.

"Ruckus continues to be committed to its worldwide partners and looks forward to engaging with its existing and new channel partners," said Whiting.

Brocade reorganized in May to ensure a smooth transition following its sale. At the time, Glaser Cheek pledged that the company was focused on resolving partner and sales engagement issues.

In an interview with CRN in February, Arris CEO Bruce McClelland said the future company "will look more like it did as Ruckus."

"We understand how important channel relationships are in this business and that we have to invest in it, we have to nurture it, and we have to make it an extension of our business," McClelland said at the time.

One executive from a solution provider who is a longtime Ruckus partner said he was disappointed that Glaser Cheek won't be making the move to Arris.

"She's definitely going to be missed on the channel side of things and I think it's a mistake not to have her on the [Arris] team," said the executive, who did not wish to be named. "She was always very transparent on what Ruckus-Brocade were doing and planning, and it's unfortunate she's not going to be working with us anymore."

As Broadcom nears the final stages of its acquisition of Brocade, the vendor has unveiled deals to sell numerous business operations and assets to various vendors. Last week, Brocade sold its Virtual Evolved Packet Core (vEPC) product family to Mavenir Systems. In June, Brocade sold its Vyatta Software Platform to AT&T as well as its virtual application delivery controller business to Pulse Secure.

Ruckus' longtime CEO, Selina Lo, left Brocade at the end of May.

The company is also planning to sell its network edge portfolio, which includes the Ruckus Wireless and ICX Switch product families, for $800 million to Arris International. It also agreed to sell its data center networking business to Extreme Networks for $55 million.

However, Broadcom's acquisition of Brocade was delayed in July when the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) said it would be reviewing the deal. Following the CFIUS review, the deal is tentatively expected to close some time in September or October.