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Partner power key as Symantec signs off on NZ enterprise sales team

Partner power key as Symantec signs off on NZ enterprise sales team

Global security vendor Symantec has officially withdrawn its direct enterprise sales team from New Zealand, ultimately placing the company’s solutions in the hands of its partners network.

Global security vendor Symantec has officially withdrawn its direct enterprise sales team from New Zealand, ultimately placing the company’s solutions in the hands of its partners network.

Following news that the vendor will begin operating as two separate companies from April 1, Symantec has confirmed to Reseller News that the move has subsequently resulted in significant change for the New Zealand division of the company.

“Effective April 2015, Symantec will withdraw its direct enterprise sales team from New Zealand,” a company spokesperson told Reseller News.

“Symantec will continue to maintain its presence and service the New Zealand market for enterprise solutions through its local distributor and extensive partner network, who offer local knowledge and an ability to scale into regional areas.”

As reported first by Reseller News, according to Symantec, this change has resulted in “a small number of direct enterprise sales positions becoming redundant and some staff redeployments to Australia.”

According to the New Zealand Companies Office, Symantec New Zealand, which entered the country in April 1998, reported annual revenue of $4.5m during the 52 week period ended 28 March 2014, down from the $5.1m posted during the same period the year period.

Furthermore, the company reported net profit of $360k during the 52 week period ended 28 March 2014, down from $402K year-on-year.

Keen to sress that Symantec has “no intention of leaving New Zealand”, the company did admit to making “some changes as we plan our company’s separation.”

“Symantec is a partner led company and this decision reinforces our confidence in our partners’ capabilities, who offer greater local knowledge and an ability to scale into regional areas,” the spokesperson added.

“Partner relationships are extremely important to Symantec, and we will work collaboratively to ensure that customer and partner business expectations are met or exceeded as we separate the company.”

Globally speaking, Symantec plans to complete the separation process by the end of the 2015 calendar year.

In a memo to employees, Tricia Atchison, senior director of channel marketing North America at Symantec, moved to reassure staff of the merits of the break up.

“We are going to stay the course with you guys,” Atchison told staff at the time. “It's a really exciting time at Symantec as we split the company into two. We think it will provide us a lot of opportunity as we go forward in both businesses.”

At a local level, the company believes “This action will drive even greater value for our partners and customers and will help reduce cost and complexity in our business.

“Symantec remains committed to the New Zealand market and this shift reinforces our confidence in our partners’ capabilities.”

The spokesperson also added that the company is “working closely with our partners to help ensure a smooth transition and to minimise any impact to our customers.”

In February the company revealed Veritas Technologies Corporation as the name for its independent publicly traded information management company, which will be created following the completion of the previously announced separation into two companies.

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