Avaya MD Tony Simonsen departs, ex-HP exec fills role

Managing director Tony Simonsen has left Avaya after 16 months in the top job.

Simonsen joined Avaya in April 2014 following the departure of former managing director Tim Gentry.

Before joining Avaya, Simonsen was managing director of Equinix, overseeing the US$50 million expansion of its Sydney data centre and construction of its new facility in Melbourne. He also had stints as director of global services at EMC, CEO of Allied Technologies Australia and director of advanced services at Cisco.

Simonsen will be replaced by Jeff Sheard, who joined Avaya nine months ago as director of enterprise and government. Prior to Avaya, Sheard was sales director of the commercial and public sector for HP Australia.

Avaya declined to comment on the reasons for the departure. Simonsen has been contacted by CRN.