SentinelOne appoints Xavier Duyck as SVP EMEA sales

New sales boss talks exclusively with CRN about AI security, partner growth and priorities for the region

SentinelOne has appointed Xavier Duyck as SVP EMEA sales, CRN reports exclusively.

Duyck joins the cybersecurity vendor from Zscaler, where he was area VP for Northern and Eastern EMEA.

He has also previously held senior roles at Netskope, Palo Alto Networks, Check Point and Extreme Networks, including running channel sales for Northern and Eastern Europe at Palo Alto Networks.

CRN had the opportunity to speak with Duyck in his first week about his priorities for SentinelOne for EMEA, what partners can expect and what success looks like in 12 months from now.

The timing of Xavier Duyck’s appointment

The cybersecurity market is particularly competitive right now, with security around AI one of the biggest conversations in the technology scene.

Duyck’s appointment comes at a time of cybersecurity domination.

“AI is dominating the cyber conversation and buying cycles alike.

“Everyone is looking for ways to control and secure AI adoption. Defenders are looking at AI to give them an advantage against machine speed threats,” Duyck said.

He explained this drive is what drew him to the organisation.

“Many are trying to meet this moment. No one is better positioned to secure AI and automate defences than SentinelOne.

“From providing visibility and control over agents to delivering the foundation for a truly autonomous SOC, SentinelOne is the one customers, managed services providers and the channel are turning to in the AI era.”

SentinelOne’s biggest priorities for EMEA

Duyck explained that he has three main priorities for SentinelOne in the region.

“First, listen to customers and partners across the region so our plans reflect their real priorities,” he said.

“Second, [to] bring our AI Security strategy to life locally, helping customers defend the surfaces AI runs on and giving their defenders the advantage with AI, from securing AI agents to the autonomous SOC.

“Third, make SentinelOne easy to work with for customers, partners and our own teams.”

Demand and how to accelerate SentinelOne’s growth

As AI reshapes the way organisations work, widespread adoption of the technology is making cybersecurity an imperative, and this is where SentinelOne is seeing demand.

“Demand is strongest where organisations are adopting AI fastest and need to secure it, while their security teams face operational overload, fragmented visibility and tool sprawl,” Duyck said.

This is a trend across the board, he claims.

“That is true in large enterprises, in regulated industries and in public sector organisations, which are all looking to secure their AI adoption and consolidate onto a unified platform.”

For SentinelOne, a clear image around AI security will be key in accelerating its growth across EMEA.

“We need to be clearer and more consistent about our story,” Duyck said.

“That means leading with AI security: defending the surfaces AI runs on and giving defenders the advantage with AI.

“The outcome is stronger protection, fewer incidents and less operational overhead.”

Another key point in accelerating the vendor’s growth, he said, will be becoming closer to customers and partners in the region, in order to bolster with local expertise, fast decisions and the same strong experience in every market.

The role partners will play in SentinelOne's growth

Partners will play a key role in this next phase of growth under Duyck.

“SentinelOne has always been a partner-first company. Partners will continue to be central,” he said.

“They bring local relationships, services and deep customer knowledge.

“The biggest opportunity is helping partners build AI Security practices on the Singularity Platform.

“Through PartnerOne, we are giving partners new certifications, assessment services and delivery packages to do that.”

Its partner programme includes MSSPs and MSPs delivering managed services, as well as resellers and integrators that are helping customers secure AI and consolidate their security tools.

Duyck also highlighted that he sees “opportunity through marketplaces and technology alliances.”

Under Duyck’s sales leadership, he wants partners to feel a difference in their place in the SentinelOne ecosystem.

“I want partners to see clear priorities, consistent rules of engagement and faster, more direct communication with us.

“They should have the training, enablement and support to build and win with AI Security on the Singularity Platform,” he said.

With experience of the channel previously, Duyck wants “partners to feel they have a voice in how we shape our regional strategy.”

Success in the first 12 months

Success in a role for the first year can be measured in a variety of ways.

For Duyck, he wants to see growth and for partners and customers to see more consistency from SentinelOne.

“Customers and partners should see a stronger, more consistent SentinelOne in the region.

“I’d measure that by customer growth, partner engagement and the strength of our team.”

But one of the biggest measures of success for Duyck lies in secure AI adoption.

He said, “Most of all, I want more organisations in EMEA to adopt AI with confidence, protected by a platform that secures the surfaces AI runs on and gives their defenders the advantage.”