Informix group to focus on partners

Informix has consolidated its two channel teams, strategic and applications partner groups into one management unit ? the partner operations group.

Peter Morris, who used to head one of the old teams ? the applications partner group ? left in the reshuffle. The group will be headed by director of partner operations Rob Baird.

The partner operations group will consist of four subsidiary units: partner development, channel sales, channel marketing and Partner Assist.

Lucy Thomas, formerly Informix strategic alliances marketing manager and now channel marketing manager, said: ?There was an unfair division in the way we treated our partners. We were focused on our systems integrators but this detracted from the support we gave to our small and medium partners. So we have consolidated into one group.?

According to Thomas, dealers will benefit from Partner Assist, its five-strong helpdesk and a series of vertical market briefings once a month.

Jim Metcalf, marketing director at Datech 2000, said: ?Integration with legacy systems and data, and the shift to NT, are opportunities that our partners are now addressing more than ever. It is vital that Vars exploiting these needs have the fullest support behind them so we are delighted with the move to create Partner Assist.?