Network Appliance's North American channel chief is going global.
Leonard Iventosch, who for the past few years has served as NetApp's vice president of Americas channel sales, this month assumed a new position in which he will oversee the storage company's worldwide channel sales and marketing. NetApp announced the move to a gathering of solution providers at its channel summit meeting this week in San Francisco.
Iventosch's new role will help unify NetApp's Americas and global channel programs, which will benefit the vendor and its solution providers, according to Stanley Jaworski, NetApp's vice president of worldwide channel marketing.
"Through his VIP channel programs, Leonard created a standard approach to channel relationships, with all the typical rules and rewards," said Jaworski, who now reports to Iventosch. "In other geographies, the go-to-market programs and partnerships are less formal. But a company our size needs a more consistent approach."
Iventosch said he looks forward to combining the best of Americas and worldwide channel marketing and sales.
"There are best practices in EMEA [Europe, Middle East, Africa] and APAC [Asia-Pacific] -- some of which I know, some I don't know -- that can help shape North American channels," Iventosch said. "But some North American programs like FastPath and Star can be taken globally."
Iventosch said NetApp has identified internal and external candidates to take over Americas channel sales and marketing, and until his replacement is determined, he will handle both Americas and worldwide channel sales and marketing.
Amy Rao, CEO of Integrated Archive Systems, a Palo Alto, Calif.-based solution provider, said Iventosch is very good for NetApp's channel.
"My first thought was, 'Oh my god, the channel just got a seat next to the chairman of NetApp,' " Rao said. "It couldn't have happened to a better channel guy. He's an honest, lovable, smart guy."
Iventosch has done an excellent job in setting up and shepherding NetApp's indirect sales channel, said Merrill Likes, president of Uptime, an Edmond, Okla.-based solution provider. "The channel is his baby," Likes said. "He'll still have input into it."
