WatchGuard hires new channel and distie manager for ANZ region

WatchGuard Technologies has announced the appointment of Michelle Liao as channel and distribution manager for Australia and New Zealand.

Based in Sydney, Liao will be responsible for driving all aspects of WatchGuard's Australian and New Zealand channel business, including managing distributors and channel, and overseeing campaigns to promote new solutions and offerings to customers.

WatchGuard Technologies regional director for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, Anthony Daniel, says, "Michelle has a successful track record building, scaling and leading channel partner programs, and we expect her extensive experience to be invaluable as we scale strategic partnerships from both a go-to-market and customer success and retention perspective."

Daniel continues, "She will also be critical in driving relationships that will enhance our customer and market value while helping to grow and strengthen WatchGuards position in the channel as the clear leader in enterprise-grade security solutions.

WatchGuard is focused on helping partners deliver better security services to customers by offering a flexible channel program, products that enable security-as-a-service, education and training tools, and solutions for simplified management, intelligent protection and actionable visibility.

The company sells 100% through the channel and has an Australian and New Zealand community of more than 600 active security-focused MSPs and value added resellers.

Of the appointment, Liao says, "I'm excited to work with partners to fulfil key market objectives including driving new business, reinforcing a competitive advantage, and creating demonstrable business value through our portfolio of best-in-class, market-leading security solutions.

"We have an exceptional base of partners in the region recognised for their innovation and performance and Im looking forward to building on our mutual success and market momentum as we approach 2022 and beyond.

Liao was previously senior partner success manager at N-able where she was responsible for being a trusted advisor and voice for their top 70 MSPs in APAC with a key focus in building go-to-market strategies.

Prior, Liao worked for more than four years at SolarWinds in several channel management roles, including as senior channel sales executive.

During this time, she was responsible for providing partner training and consulting services with a focus on the development of customer go-to-market offerings, marketing strategies, and sales preparedness. She also previously worked as account executive at Bullhorn.

WatchGuard states the company is committed to supporting partners with cooperative lead generation, education and training, sales and technical support, goal-setting, overall relationship management, and more.

Additionally, all WatchGuard partners have access to continual web and phone support, regardless of location or which products or services they're using, as well as ongoing access to a growing library of support and educational resources.

In recent months, by integrating its newly acquired endpoint protection solutions into the WatchGuardONE program, WatchGuard has given partners a path to gaining the access and expertise they need to sell complete security, from network to endpoint all through a single vendor, the company states.