Cato Networks loses local head to Palo Alto, says everything is fine

Cato Networks is on the hunt for new local leadership.

The SD-WAN player arrived in Australia in early 2018, naming Westcon-Comstor as its distributor and later signing with Tradewinds. But at about the time of the Tradewinds deal, the company’s regional director for Australia and New Zealand Ed Sawkins stepped aside from the business.

In what he described to CRN as a purely personal decision, Sawkins moved to Palo Alto networks.

Cato Networks last week distributed a promotional email in which it listed that role, and that of ANZ Sales Engineer, as “TBH” – to be hired.

A company spokesperson told CRN that not having local staff isn’t really a problem.

“Our sales team isn’t providing customer support,” we were told, and with Cato operating global support teams and offering services from of Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan, local customers can rest easy.

Sales? Channel to the rescue! “In addition, Cato remains primarily channel driven,” the spokesperson added. “With distributors and master agents, such as Tradewinds, Westcon, and OrCA Technology, and customer-facing resellers, such as Co-Evolve, Cythera, Aleron, Cyber Risk, and Opia Technology. Our sales team primarily supports the channel.”

Which leaves the channel without current on-shore support.

The spokesperson also noted Cato’s recent opening  of a point of presence in Perth, its third in Australia, and told us “We continue to sign partners and invest in personnel” in Australia. “We are hiring a new sales team for the region that will expand our headcount —an account executive to replace Ed and a new pre-sales position.”