Critchley out and Greer-King in at Cisco
David Critchley takes role at Didata after 15 years at Cisco just as former Check Point boss Terry Greer-King rocks up at networking giant
Long-standing UK Cisco executive David Critchley is leaving the networking juggernaut for a role at its largest partner, Dimension Data.
Critchley, who joined Cisco in 1998, will be a familiar face to the channel, having headed the vendor's commercial and partner-led business between 2009 and 2012. He currently holds the title of senior director of global mid-market acceleration.
Cisco executive John Donovan confirmed in an email to staff on Thursday that Critchley will depart the vendor on 15 October. Critchley will join Didata on 4 November in the role of global head of mid-market business.
In an email to CRN, Critchley said it had been a tough decision to leave Cisco after nearly 16 years.
"But I have always talked about working in the channel so a move to Dimension Data – who are Cisco's largest partner – and to continue with a global focus around the mid-market seems like a great segue to me," he said.
"I had no desire to work for another vendor and want to get closer to customers, delivering solutions and ultimately I would like to see myself running my own company in the future."
But while Critchley begins to clear his desk, another big channel name has joined Cisco in the form of former Check Point UK managing director Terry Greer-King.
Richard Roberts, Cisco's managing director for UK partner and commercial sales organisation, confirmed in a tweet this morning that Greer-King, who left Check Point in July, is joining Cisco as UK&I director of security architecture.
Donovan said Critchley had created a "significant impact" on Cisco's business down the years.
He added: "On one hand we will be sad to lose David and his talents from Cisco after over 15 years of service; on the other hand, and as part of his long term a career plan, David will be joining Dimension Data, Cisco's largest partner globally, as the Global Head of Midmarket Business, so I'm sure we will continue to work closely together!"