AlienVault Creates Channel Chief Position, Names Former Westcon, HP Exec To Role

AlienVault is investing big in the channel, creating a new worldwide channel chief position and naming former Westcon and Hewlett-Packard executive Anthony D'Angelo to the role.

D'Angelo joins the up-and-coming UTM and threat intelligence vendor with nearly 20 years of experience working with channel companies, joking to CRN that he "bleeds channel." He most recently served as vice president of global partner management and emerging technologies at Westcon, Tarrytown, N.Y., but also held a position as vice president of worldwide channel sales at Hewlett-Packard, Palo Alto, Calif., from 2009 to 2013.

D'Angelo, whose appointment was unveiled Monday, said he knew San Mateo, Calif.-based AlienVault from his time at Westcon, where he was in charge of evaluating high-growth companies in the market that the selective distributor might be interested in partnering with. He said AlienVault had a strong growth record and brand name, which he said was reinforced when talking to management during the hiring process.

[Related: AlienVault Lands $52 Million In Series E Funding To Drive Accelerated Growth]

"Once I got a chance to interact with some of the folks, it was very clear that AlienVault is poised for aggressive growth, and the channel will be an essential part of that," D'Angelo said. "I loved the opportunity to join that and work on those goals."

The creation of the new role of worldwide channel chief reinforces the company's commitment to the channel, which accounts for a significant portion of its go-to-market approach, D'Angelo said. Justin Endres, senior vice president, worldwide sales, agreed, saying in a statement that D'Angelo's appointment is a way to create more collaboration between AlienVault and its roughly 70 partners.

"We view our partners as a critical extension to AlienVault and we are committed to their success," said Endres in the statement. "With Anthony's leadership, we can further increase our collaboration and help our network of partners grow their businesses at an accelerated rate."

D’Angelo officially started at the security company in December. He said his short-term goals include engaging with partners and learning what is working and what needs to be improved. That process is already well underway, he said. In the long term, D'Angelo said, partners can expect to see improvements to the partner program, an establishment of global distribution and a focus on quality partners.

"I can't emphasize enough the commitment that AlienVault has for building a strong and profitable channel," D'Angelo said. "I'm confident that we're going to see a lot of new programs, but certainly we will be engaging more and more with our VARs and MSSPs."

PUBLISHED JAN. 19, 2016