20 February 2003 -- Extreme Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXTR), a leader in Ethernet networking infrastructure, today announced the appointment of Rob Pronk as director of sales for EMEA.
With more than 15 years of sales and management experience in the international networking market, Pronk will lead the company in increasing its strong presence in the region.
Pronk's appointment complements the EMEA management team that includes Peter Sminia, director of Customer Advocacy, Keith Bird, director of Channels and Martin van Schooten, director of Marketing.
This commitment to strengthening product and service sales will enable the EMEA team reinforce the company's best of breed approach and enter its next phase of development across the region.
Pronk's mission is to develop further relationships with Extreme Networks' "Go Purple" technology partners to continue delivering best-fit solutions that meet the application demands of large Enterprise customers and Ethernet Metro Service Providers.
As part of the company's vision of Ethernet and IP Everywhere, Pronk in tandem with Keith Bird is responsible for assuring alignment of the sales organisation and channel sales partners to maximise the vertical knowledge base and skill set available to Extreme's partners.
This vertically segmented strategy will deliver technology expertise, services and in-depth vertical knowledge to support Extreme's channel partners. This is underpinned by a 24x7 global support programme provided by a services team run out of The Netherlands.
"With Rob Pronk's appointment our EMEA management team is ready to take the business to the next level", said Chris Todd, senior vice president of Worldwide Sales. "Implementation of our best of breed strategy is well under way across EMEA. Continuing to offer our customers superior solutions with a dramatically lower cost of ownership for their network, remains at the heart of our approach. "
Pronk has held senior roles with leading of networking infrastructure vendors, including Racal Datacom, Cabletron Systems, Xylan, Concord Communications and Avici Systems, where he held the position of Managing Director for EMEA. Immediately prior to joining Extreme Networks, Pronk was Director of Sales for Northern Europe at Unisphere Networks.