WatchGuard Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: WGRD), a leading provider of network security solutions, today announced the appointments of Ken Leung to the role of Director of Sales, Asia; and Kenji Nakai as President and Representative Director of Japan.
“WatchGuard believes the Asia Pacific market will be a key global growth region this year,” said Jeff Hurmuses, Managing Director Asia Pacific, WatchGuard Technologies. “To that end, we’re investing in locally based people and resources to support customer demands for innovative, expandable, reliable network security solutions.”
Asia Pacific operations for WatchGuard are focused on providing businesses with network security solutions that are robust, as well as easily bought, deployed and managed.
With regional headquarters in Singapore and local offices in Hong Kong, India, Korea, China, Singapore and Australia, WatchGuard provides businesses with scalable, integrated network security solutions.
Ken Leung, Director of Sales, Asia
Leung will be based in Hong Kong and will be responsible for expanding sales, channel and distribution networks in Asia. His 18 years of channel and account management experiences in the Greater China market will be an asset as WatchGuard works to grow the distribution and channel coverage in the region.
Prior to this appointment, Leung was Regional Director, Greater China for Check Point Software, leading the development of its channel network and strategic partnerships in the region.
Leung’s career includes a strong track record in senior management functions at BMC Software, Candle China and Digital Equipment Corporation, where he was heavily involved in launching and executing the solution marketing business model and strategic partnerships.
Kenji Nakai, President and Representative Director for Japan
Based in WatchGuard’s Tokyo office, Nakai is responsible for driving local and multinational enterprise sales, and further expanding WatchGuard’s presence in this key North Asian market.
Nakai’s extensive experience - spanning sales, operations and strategy - will be important as WatchGuard works to build its business while continuing to meet existing customer needs in Japan.
Nakai joins WatchGuard from Radisys, formerly Microware, where he was President and Representative Director. Microware turned profitable within his first year and when it was bought by Radisys in 2002, Nakai worked to capture major customers, helping Radisys become profitable and move into expansion mode.
Prior to his role at Radisys, Nakai was responsible for sales strategy development at HCL Technologies Japan. His career also includes a strong track record of leadership and growth at Aspentech Japan and extensive business experience in IT. Nakai also spent more than seven years at Cray Research and more than nine years at IBM in key sales roles.
About WatchGuard Technologies, Inc.
WatchGuard is a leading provider of network security solutions for small- to mid-sized enterprises worldwide, delivering integrated products and services that are robust, as well as easy-to-buy, -deploy and -manage. The company’s Firebox X line of expandable, integrated security appliances is designed to be fully-upgradeable as an organisation grows, and to deliver the industry’s best combination of security, performance, intuitive interface and value. WatchGuard Intelligent Layered Security architecture protects against emerging threats effectively and efficiently, and provides the flexibility to integrate additional security functionality and services offered through WatchGuard. Every WatchGuard product comes with an initial LiveSecurity Service subscription to help customers stay on top of the security landscape with vulnerability alerts, software updates, expert security instruction and superior customer care. WatchGuard is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, and has its Asia-Pacific regional headquarters in Singapore with other offices in Hong Kong, Mumbai, Seoul, Shanghai, Sydney and Tokyo. For more information, please visit www.watchguard.com
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Certain statements in this press release, including statements about the growth potential of the Asia-Pacific market, our ability to grow our business in Asia-Pacific and other statements about our plans, objectives, intentions, and expectations are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the time the statements are made and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and inaccurate assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected or implied by the forward-looking statements. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements for many reasons, including the risk that the Asia-Pacific market will not grow as expected or at all, the risk that we will be unable to grow our business in Asia-Pacific as expected or at all or that our Asia-Pacific business will decline and the other risks described under "Important Factors That May Affect Our Operating Results, Our Business and Our Stock Price" in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004, and in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings from time to time. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release.
WatchGuard, LiveSecurity and Firebox are either registered trademarks or trademarks of WatchGuard Technologies, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Contacts:
Erin Atan
LEWIS PR
+65 6557 2440
+65 9776 8789
[email protected] End.