NEUR SITE The Leadership Team Your Security Distributor For The SaaS World We believe in the power of the channel to deliver technology innovations that drive business growth. We exist to help our channel partners stay relevant and add value to their customers in a world of rapid change, growing complexity and heightened security threats. Ignition’s leadership team has over 8 decades of information security industry experience and expertise. The heritage of our founders in bringing new and emerging information security technologies to market has enabled us to forge strong relationships with investors, analysts and technology entrepreneurs, giving us unique insights and access to the latest disruptive innovation coming from technology hotspots such as the US and Israel. Combining this with our relationships with C-suite decision-makers and influencers within end-user organisations – understanding their business goals and challenges – we can map a portfolio of technologies and services to help our partners deliver complete security solutions and support that address real business needs, thereby enabling resellers to stay relevant and end-users to stay protected and connected. PETER LEDGER CEO Peter has a wealth of experience in taking leading, cutting edge security and networking technologies to market both directly to end customers and through a multi-tier channel model. He was co-founder and Sales Director of Quadrant Networks, a UK based VAR that specialised in working with innovative security and networking technology companies selling to large financial institutions, e-commerce, online gaming and travel companies to name a few. Peter was instrumental in building and leading the sales and marketing operation. Quadrant Networks was successfully sold to the SecureData group in 2012, where he became Enterprise Sales Director. SEAN REMNANT CSO Over the last 25 years Sean has held a number of Technical Director roles in successful UK and EMEA focused security distribution companies (Exclusive Networks, Vadition, and Equip Technology). With responsibilities for product selection and the technical services business units. Primarily focussing on identifying and bringing new, disruptive and innovative solutions to market, some of the more successful vendors over the years being Netscreen, Neoteris and more recently Palo Alto Networks & FireEye. Sean is Ignition’s Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), and is responsible for shaping the company’s technology and service offerings for our partners. PAUL RISK CTO After nearly two decades in the IT security and networking industry, Paul has vast experience in both the technical and commercial aspects of this fast-changing industry. Having worked for several technology manufacturers, distributors, and resellers he has a unique understanding of the challenges and pressures throughout the whole channel. After co-founding Quadrant Networks in 2008 as Technical Director, within four years they became widely regarded as the UK specialist in deploying and supporting application delivery and security solutions. Quadrant Networks was acquired by the SecureData group in November 2012, where Paul took on the role of Chief Technology Officer. He was instrumental in the transformation of the business over the following two years. PHILIP BROWN CFO Philip is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales. He has worked in IT Distribution and the IT Channel for 19 years and has been responsible for managing the demands of rapid growth businesses as they undertake their journey from start up to flotation or sale. In the last 15 years Philip has been involved with the development of numerous successful high growth businesses including Equip Technology, Data Integration, Cohort Technology, Pasporte, Corporate Communications Europe and Quadrant Networks. Prior to working in the IT industry Philip was the UK Head of Finance, Treasury and Taxation for a large Pharmaceutical Corporation. Most recently Philip was the CFO of MTI Technology which is one of EMC’s largest European partners. During his time at MTI the business doubled in size and Philip managed the M&A activity along with corporate strategy. DAVE RISK SALES DIRECTOR UK&I Dave has vast channel experience, understanding the intricacies of the channel landscape and how to create value. He has worked with the full variety of channel partners, from small consultancies through to large integrators and understands what they require from their distributor in order to grow their business. With over 15 years’ experience with resellers and end users, notably running the Major Accounts Sales Team at Exclusive Networks, Dave has been instrumental in building out the Ignition Sales team and strategy. In his capacity as Business Development Director, Dave works with Ignition’s newly on-boarded vendors and helps launch them into the UK market. MIKKO VAAJAMO MANAGING DIRECTOR NORTHERN EUROPE For more than two decades within the security distribution market, Mikko has held a number of successful management and board member roles in EMEA and the Nordics. He has worked within a number of value added distributors such as Securesoft, Computerlinks and Exclusive Networks as well as developing a community with his many advisory and board roles within customers and manufacturers alike including Check Point, RSA Security, Juniper, Palo Alto, FireEye and Arbor Networks. Since being a co-founder of Securesoft Group in 1998, Mikko has been introducing new innovative security and networking technologies to different territories winning many best in EMEA awards together with his teams. With this knowledge he will be running the Northern European team that will have over 18 years of collaborative working experience. MARKO LINDSTEDT SALES DIRECTOR NORTHERN EUROPE Marko has over 20 years of IT experience, operating at a high level within multiple leading US technology companies in security, cloud, networking and application delivery. In addition to driving sales teams in senior management positions to achieve targets, Marko has had exposure in driving teams in various international environments including Northern and Eastern Europe & Russia. Having worked across the channel, Marko has amassed invaluable experience working in several manufacturers, distributors, resellers and customers both in large enterprises through to niche service providers. His exposure to high pressure sales roles, reaching VP of North East EMEA at F5 Networks, gives Marko the experience needed to ignite sales growth for Ignition in Northern Europe. MARKUS LAAKSONEN TECHNICAL DIRECTOR NORTHERN EUROPE Markus has been working in IT for nearly 20 years, working across the channel including resellers, distributors and vendors. For the last 7 years, he was working for Palo Alto Networks, more recently focusing on major accounts. Markus was one of the first employees operating in the Nordics for Palo, diligently working to build the brand from a stage of obscurity to the top performing firewall vendor in the region. Bringing products to market has been an area of great interest, driving Markus and his teams. Prior to Palo, Markus worked for distributor Computerlinks for 4 years and was responsible for Checkpoint, Sourcefire, RSA, EMC and VMware. Before that, he worked within resellers Nordic Lan&Wan, as well as Novo Group (now CGI). Markus will now be leading and delivering on the technical capabilities of Ignition in the Nordic region, creating value across the Nordic channel. About Ignition We believe in the power of the channel to deliver technology innovations that drive business growth. We exist to help our channel partners stay relevant and add value to their customers in a world of rapid change, growing complexity and heightened security threats. European HQ Cody Technology Park Ively Road Farnborough Hampshire United Kingdom GU14 0LX +44 (0)20 3873 6580 Find us on: Useful Links About Us Become a Partner Events News Press Room Newsletter First Name Last Name Email Address © 2020 Ignition Technology Ltd, an Exclusive Networks Company Privacy Policy Ethics and Code of Conduct Whistleblowing Policy