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New Intel Security boss talks Cisco and Symantec’s split

LAS VEGAS – Chris Young is just two weeks on the job as the new face of Intel Security.

Young arrives at Intel Security at an interesting time in its history. The vendor has decided to drop the McAfee brand and use Intel Security as its master brand. The McAfee brand will survive as a product brand.

He has worked at RSA and VMware, but left Cisco Systems where he was instrumental in acquiring SourceFire in 2013 to take this job. Young was introduced as senior vice president and GM of Intel Security by Intel president Renee James at the Focus 14 conference taking over from Mike DeCesare.

Young took some time out during the conference to answer questions from the high tech press. CDN had a chance to ask him about replicating Cisco’s highly successful Value Incentive Program (VIP) at Intel Security and got his thoughts on McAfee’s long-time rival Symantec’s move to split up the company.

This is what Young had to say about Cisco VIP…

“The good news is we have a vibrant channel program today and part of this gathering in Las Vegas was with the channel partners. From the initially feedback I got they are happy. That said we are open to different way to expand the channel program. In this new role I’ll be thinking about the partners more broadly than in the past. You’ll start to see us partner with customer on end point products and create solutions together. We’ll see how we can help them drive services around our capabilities. I need more time to dig into the program and maybe compare that with other well done channel programs. But certainly we have a strong profile and we have many of the top partners already; many of which I knew from before. We have a lot of the same players (as Cisco) and I asked them how are we doing? I look at it that we have a strong partner situation right now and it has plenty of upside.”

One day one of the Focus 14 conference Intel Security channel chief Gavin Struthers told more than 700 channel partners that he intends to target Symantec customers and channel partners aggressively now that Symantec has decided to split in two.

This is what Young had to say about Symantec’s split…

“What can I say? Intel Security formerly MacAfee and Symantec have been competing for years; way before I got here. The competition is intense but fair and we will continue that in the market place. And, we have been successful in displacing them in many major accounts and I’m sure they have examples too where they did the same. I think we have better long term odds (over a separated Symantec). I know a few of the executives at Symantec and I respect them, but I do not intend to lose to them. I am happy with the partners we have now and I’m not sure they have the partners we need. Let me make this clear; I want bigger share. We are focused on that and we can’t get where we need to be without growing our share.”

One quick hit before I go. Former OnX CEO Ed Vos is back in the channel. After taking some time off where he successfully climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, he told CDN that he co-founded a company called Mindful Experience. Vos will run the organization as CEO.

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Jim Love, Chief Content Officer, IT World Canada

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