Forcepoint names F5's Robert Cipriani as A/NZ channel head

Robert Cipriani (Forcepoint)

Forcepoint is aiming to accelerate partner growth across Australia and New Zealand through the appointment of Robert Cipriani as A/NZ senior channel manager.

Cipriani joins the global cyber security vendor from F5 Networks, where he held the title of security channel account manager for about a year.

Cipriani worked at F5 Networks for about five years, in which he moved up the ranks from joining as regional services manager - previously he held leadership roles at Frontline Systems Australia.  

According to Forcepoint, Cipriani’s appointment strengthens the vendor's commitment to support and grow channel operations on both sides of the Tasman, with a responsibility for expanding the company's ecosystem of partners.

Based out of Forcepoint’s Sydney office, Cipriani will report to A/NZ regional sales senior director, Guy Eilon.

The company has also hired Tom Flink as its vice-president of global channel sales, in charge of leading the global channel team in enabling reseller and distributor partners to deliver human-centric security to customers worldwide.

Flink comes to Forcepoint with more than 30 years of global sales leadership experience in technology. Most recently, he was senior vice-president for global sales and services at RES Software. Prior to this, he held various leadership roles at Citrix, MTM Technologies and Vector ESP.

“Protecting the human point represents a largely untapped opportunity for the channel as the changing world of business demands a fresh approach to security,” Flink said.

"As trusted advisors, our channel and solution provider partners can address the most complex security and compliance challenges with intelligent cyber products that work together in any data environment, cloud or mobile, to meet these modern problems head on."

Forcepoint has been taking strides to increase its security play. On a global level, the company recently acquired security analytics provider, RedOwl, integrating it across its portfolio and existing customer’s technology.

Locally, it inked a distribution deal with Sydney-based Orca Tech in August, bringing its local distributor count to three, including Tech Data Technology Solutions and M.Tech Products Australia.