Distributor e92plus has admitted one of its co-founders is the driving force behind newborn security VAR e-touch, but has categorically denied any link between the two firms.
According to the distributor, e-touch was established by e92plus co-founder Rakesh Gupta after he decided to part company with e92plus’ other key figure – his brother Mukesh.
Mukesh Gupta told CRN: “Rakesh and I have worked together for many years. However, it got to the point where it didn’t work any more.
“[The businesses] have no connection, apart from the fact that Rakesh is my brother. My loyalty lies with our resellers and I am not going to do anything to jeopardise that.”
The split comes as speculation builds that e92plus has lost its distribution contract with Trend Micro.
Anthony O’Mara, EMEA vice-president sales at Trend, refused to comment on the vendor’s distribution line-up.
However, he told CRN: “I am shocked that the Gupta brothers are not working together and would question whether this is not a diversification, rather than a split.”
James McKee, security manager at Trend Micro reseller Qual, said: “I would be surprised if there is anything more behind this because of the negative experience e92plus had with [reseller] Secon, which used to be a sister to e92plus under the Axcelerant group.”
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