Cisco names Express Data APAC Distributor of the Year 2009

In the clip, standing left to right is David Peach vendor channel manager, James Mackay Cisco division manager and Ross Cochrane, CEO.

Cochrane said he posted the video an hour after receiving the award.

He said he had some exciting news and admitted he was nervous when the awards were announced.

He thanked all his team in Australia admitting it is 'difficult year after year to deliver great performance'.

"It makes me really proud. It's a tremendous achievement," he said in the recording.

Cochrane jokingly said he was going to call Australia to wake Peter Masters, director of marketing and operations for Express Data, up but decided to wait.

The award was announced at the Cisco Partner Summit, in Boston, Massachusetts U.S. and was presented at a meeting of all the APAC partners and distributors.

There is only one award given to distribution partners, of which there are more than 20 in APAC.

It was presented to Cochrane by Owen Chan, president of APAC Cisco and Mike Allen managing director of APAC Cisco Channels.

Express Data was chosen for its strong sales growth over the year, particularly in SMB, for its innovation and for being more than a "pick, pack and ship" distributor.
 
"This is a recognition of the strong and close partnership we have with Cisco," said Peter Vasey Cisco marketing manager for Express Data.

"It shows that we have worked hard to assist Cisco with their efforts in the small business market and that has been reflected in a significant growth over the last 12 months for both companies."

Vasey said he found out about the award on the YouTube message adding that Cisco recently acquired Pure Digital which gave all 1,500 delegates at the conference one of their Flip Video cameras.

 Cochrane used the Flip Video to film his message.

This award comes on the back of Express Data's 2008 awards for Global Services Innovation and A/NZ Distributor of the Year, and Express Data's 2007 APAC Distributor of the Year award.

"We have a lot of people in this organisation who are focused on the Cisco business and we have a strong relationship with Cisco throughout their various branches in Australia. The strength of close partnerships is key to winning this award," said Vasey.