Credit: Dreamtimes
Converged data platform vendor, MapR, has appointed former IBM talent, Paul Bennett, as its new country manager for its Australian and New Zealand operations.
Bennett, whose most recent role prior to the new appointment saw him head up the local business of TmaxSoft as managing director, will be responsible for MapR’s business and go-to-market strategy in A/NZ.
The new role will also see Bennett focus on extended sales growth, customer value delivery and partner development.
For MapR Asia Pacific vice president, Simon Dale, Bennett’s appointment is set to see the company bolster its engagement with partners in the local market.
“Paul has proven success in achieving strong, sustained business results through supporting his teams to develop and implement innovative and credible business strategies,” Dale said. “This, combined with his outstanding sales and marketing experience, is why we are excited to have Paul on board to further enhance our engagement with customers and partners in Australian and New Zealand operations.”
Bennett’s professional history has seen him spend considerable time on both the reseller and vendor side of the local tech landscape – a factor that is likely to lend itself well to his new role.
Between 2014 and 2015, for example, Bennett held the role of Asia Pacific sales vice president for business process outsourcing firm, WNS Global Services, a position he held after two years as NSW general manager for IT services provider, Communications Design & Management (CDM).
Between 2008 and 2011, Bennett held the role of IBM Software Group’s northern regional sales director, revisiting the company after his nine-year tenure with IBM between 1986 and 1995, albeit in a different role.
“I’m excited to come on board at a time when there is tremendous opportunity across the ANZ market as the role of big data in organisational success continues to grow,” Bennett said.
Bennett’s appointment comes roughly five months after MapR announced its new systems integrator program, Elite Premier.
The program, revealed in July, is aimed at recognising the expertise of qualified system integrators and designates those partners to work with the growing list of MapR customers on a variety of big data projects.
The Elite Premier program was formed to accommodate the significant increase in partner enrollment in the MapR Converge Partners program, which was launched in June 2016.
The new program is designed specifically for systems integrators to give them the necessary resources to further develop their big data practice around the MapR Converged Data Platform.
“With his expertise in driving successful go-to-market teams and helping customers achieve successful results, we are pleased to have Simon lead our APAC organisation,” MapR Technologies chief revenue officer, Jim Kowalski, said at the time.
