F5 ends relationship with Norwood Adam
Vendor ends distribution agreement after three-year relationship
Security vendor F5 Networks has terminated its distribution agreement with Norwood Adam just a year after Norwood was promoted to Gold Distribution status.
F5 and Norwood have worked together for the past three years. Paul Jenkinson, UK channel manager at F5, told CRN the termination will be in effect from the end of this year.
"Matrix [the parent company of Norwood Adam] is a Gold reseller partner of ours, so we will still focus on the group as a whole. But we are stepping away from the distribution business. We felt we could serve Matrix, as a reseller, better. Relations between us and Norwood Adam are still good," he said.
Jenkinson said as a Gold partner, Matrix can either buy direct from the vendor or through its remaining distribution partners, equIP and Clarity Distribution.
According to Jenkinson, the firm intends to stick with these two distribution partners for the time being. "We want to put resources into the channel, but be more specific about it," he said.
Manny Pinon, sales director at Norwood Adam, said: "There are still things to discuss with F5 such as service provision and the distribution future of the group. Things are still up in the air."
F5 was unavailable to confirm industry rumours that it is on the verge of appointing Azlan as its fourth distributor to act as a pan-European partner.