Carbonite: SMB Cloud Backup Company Hires Distribution Expert
Carbonite (CARB) a Top 100 Cloud Services Provider, has hired Tech Data (TECD) veteran Kai Cheung to drive the company’s SMB distribution relationships, The VAR Guy has confirmed.
Cheung jumped to Carbonite, the cloud-focused backup and recovery company, back in May 2013. Carbonite didn’t promote the move at the time. But during a discussion about Carbonite’s top channel moves of 2013, Senior Director of Channels David Hauser mentioned Cheung’s talents to The VAR Guy a few days ago.
According to Cheung’s bio:
“Kai Cheung joined Carbonite in May 2013 as distribution partner manager, where he is responsible for growing Carbonite’s distribution and indirect channel reseller acquisition program. Within his first three months, he signed Tech Data as Carbonite’s first distributor, allowing the brand to reach an additional 120,000 resellers worldwide. Prior to Carbonite, Kai spent 13 years at Tech Data Corporation, a global leader in IT distribution, where he managed the recruitment, development and growth of strategic reseller partners throughout New England. He also managed Tech Data’s Large Account Reseller Software team and spent five years in inside sales. Kai frequently travels across the US to support the growth of Carbonite’s channel strategy and educate partners about Carbonite’s secure and affordable solutions for small businesses.”
If The VAR Guy had to guess, it’s a safe bet Carbonite will pursue additional distribution relationships in the weeks and months ahead.
During lunch last week in Boston, Carbonite CEO David Friend reiterated his vision to The VAR Guy: The company got its start in the consumer market, but the bulk of growth will come from SMB customers — represented by channel partners.
Carbonite also is developing an on-premises appliance that will work hand-in-glove with the company’s cloud storage services. It sounds like the appliance will roll out to channel partners soon…