NetApp, the\u00a0computer storage and data management company,\u00a0has announced the appointment of Mark Ridley as new regional director for Africa.<\/p>\n
An experienced sales leader with over 15 years of experience in IT, Ridley will be responsible for all NetApp business in Africa including offices in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria.<\/p>\n
Prior to joining NetApp,\u00a0Ridley\u00a0was country manager for Dell Computers and responsible for Dell\u2019s business across Africa. He has also held senior management positions at Cisco, IBM, Microsoft and Panasonic.<\/p>\n
His role covers development and execution of sales and marketing strategies, enhancing the channel ecosystem and expanding the NetApp customer base in this region.<\/p>\n
He reports to NetApp\u2019s newly appointed Director MEEEA for the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Africa, Konstantin Ebert.<\/p>\n
NetApp said that\u00a0Ridley\u2019s appointment demonstrates the group’s commitment to its African growth.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith many markets emerging and maturing at a fast pace, the African continent offers a very interesting playing field. I am confident that NetApp\u2019s solutions hold tremendous value for partners and end customers such as telecommunications, utility or commodity companies and service providers,\u201d said Ridley.<\/p>\n
He stressed that the group’s approach in Africa is 100% indirect, relying heavily on partnerships including MTN, Bytes, DataCentrix, and Didata\u00a0to execute.<\/p>\n
In June, the group announced\u00a0that it has selected theWestcon Group<\/a>\u00a0of companies to be its sole long term distribution partner in Africa.<\/p>\n NetApp changes tack in SA strategy<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nMore on NetApp<\/h3>\n