Web and email security specialists M86 Security has parted ways with distributor Whitegold and appointed Express Data as its sole distributor for Australia.
M86 has also dropped Sydney-based valued added security reseller WebSecure Technologies.
The decision followed a year when a number of sales and other staff reportedly left the security vendor.
Jeremy Hulse, Asia-Pacific head of sales for M86 Security, formerly Marshal Software, said the decision to replace Whitegold - with which it had worked for three years - was based on the shift in the vendor's customer base from SMB to the enterprise and that it grew four-fold since 2007.
“The decision was driven by our strategy to ensure greater consistency and efficiency in supporting and strengthening the M86 Security channel in Australia,” Hulse said.
“Focusing our efforts on one leading distributor allows us to maximise this market opportunity.”
But Whitegold managing director Dominic Whitehand said that the distributor found it difficult to work with M86 and was relieved that the partnership had come to an end.
“[We] found that we just couldn't get engagement from the local M86 team,” Whitehand said.
Whitehand challenged Hulse’s claims for M86's sales in Australia given that “almost all of M86's entire Australian sales and marketing team have left in the last 12 months”.
WebSecure Technologies owner Stewart Sim said he was unaware of M86's decision to end the relationship with his company until he was contacted by CRN.
Sim said he would seek clarification from M86 and Hulse before making further comment.
-1.jpg&w=100&c=1&s=0)
.png&w=100&c=1&s=0)
