New MD leads InterQuad shake-up

Company focuses on storage and security

Networking distributor InterQuad has appointed a new managing director and is restructuring its business to increase its presence in the storage and security arenas and bring new business to its channel partners.

Sean Fane, previously group marketing director at the company, has taken over the helm. He replaces Ed Arnett, who left the company earlier this year.

The firm, which brings together skills to supply complex networking products through the channel, is at present split into two divisions: InterQuad Learning for training and InterQuad Systems for products.

However, Fane said the company will now be divided into four specialist areas: operating systems such as Citrix and Nokia WAP; network management and applications; security; and data availability.

"I was asked to form a strategy for the group and look for value proposition to support and work with vendors and turn it into a much stronger proposition for our resellers," he explained. "We are also hoping to take our channel partners into new markets such as security and storage, and will work to introduce partners to new vendors."

Despite talk about the market downturn, the company is very bullish about the future. "Among all the depression, these are exciting times for InterQuad. We are looking forward to adopting a slightly different approach and working even more closely with vendors and channel partners," said Fane.

Sandy Fitzpatrick, senior analyst at Canalys.com, believes that the company will do well by refocusing on growth areas.

"InterQuad has been around for a long time and it is being very sensible hedging its bets on storage and security, which are the areas that have been least affected by the state of the economy," she said.