Huawei European channel boss Vanhamme set to exit

Former Cisco man latest well-known channel face set to depart Chinese giant after brief tenure, sources indicate

Huawei European partner leader Dominique Vanhamme has become the latest exec to depart the firm, leaving after just a year in the job, ChannelWeb understands.

Vanhamme (pictured), who joined Huawei in August 2011 following a seven-year stint as a leading figure in Cisco's European channel, was charged with building the Chinese giant's partner operations across the continent. Sources indicate he is leaving the company, though it is not yet clear where he may land.

He becomes the second high-profile channel exec in recent months to leave following a short tenure at the vendor. Former Sun man Simon Culmer was unveiled as Huawei Enterprise UK and Ireland vice president about the same time as Vanhamme's appointment. Culmer popped up as UK and Ireland boss of Avaya several months ago.

But, in a busy summer for Huawei's HR department, former ShoreTel exec Tom Perry became the latest well-known face to join the firm, being announced as marketing director for the Enterprise business across Europe last week.

The Chinese firm has been on a concerted European channel push for the past 18 months or so, and other channel veterans to have signed up include Dave Poskett and Michael Rae.

ChannelWeb is awaiting comment from Huawei on the reasons for Vanhamme's exit, who might replace him and how big a setback his departure is for the vendor's channel push.