Freshworks hires Neels du Plooy as ANZ channel chief

Customer engagement vendor Freshworks has hired Neels du Plooy as its head of channels and alliances for Australia and New Zealand (ANZ).

Du Ploy joins the company from Splunk, where he served as ANZ regional director of partners and alliances from July 2022 until January 2024.

"I am very excited to start a new journey with Freshworks this week. I will be leading the Channels & Alliances business for Australia and New Zealand!" du Plooy said in a LinkedIn post.

"I feel very refreshed and ready for the journey and adventure ahead after I took a few months off, giving me the opportunity to spend time with family and friends, lots of time doing some home reno stuff, lots of BBQ's, got my fitness back to standard, some good camping and [four] wheel driving exploring some new spots in our beautiful country."

"I am looking forward to connecting with the Freshwork's team and partner community. Excited and grateful for the opportunity ahead!"

Du Plooy will bring over two decades' IT channel experience to the role.

Prior to Splunk, he served as Citrix's ANZ channel chief following a nine-year stint at VMware, where he was ANZ head of channels from 2016 to 2021, and senior partner business manager from 2012 to 2016.

Previous stints include regional channel manager of strategic accounts at UC vendor ShoreTel from 2010 to 2012, partner business manager at Cisco from 2002 to 2010, and channel manager at Avaya’s South African office from 2000 to 2002.