Trend Micro has appointed longtime security and channel player Peter Hewett as its new channel director for Australia and New Zealand as the vendor looks to double local sales.

Hewett, whose previous roles include Asia Pacific managing director for Kaspersky Lab and sales director for Westcon Australia, is charged with driving the continued growth of Trend Micro's channel, which has doubled in the past two years.

Dhanya Thakkar, Trend Micro Asia Pacific vice president and managing director, says the security vendor is looking to double sales in Australia this year.

“Expanding our focus while ensuring our existing channel is fully supported for success will help us accelerate growth in 2017,” Thakkar says.

Hewett, who has spent the past decade focused on the security industry and channel, says the changing threat market and changing technology offers new opportunities for resellers.

“The changing security landscape has seen new device types, new computing models and the industrialisation of cybercrime and ransomware that are forcing organisations across all markets to make new IT strategies and investments,” Hewett says.

“Trend Micro and its network of resellers are capitalising on this growing business opportunity.

The company, which claims the number one market share in server security for physical, virtual, cloud and hybrid environments, says it plans to cement that market leadership position in the year ahead.

Most recently Hewett was the Australian country manager for cyber security company Darktrace.