Citrix explains Platinum partner demotions

Vendor insists it worked closely with the three resellers to try to ensure they maintained their top position

Citrix has defended its decision to strip a trio of resellers of their Platinum status, claiming that it did as much as it could to help the companies retain their accreditation.

Earlier this week, CRN reported that resellers Esteem, Point to Point and Intercept IT had lost their top-level status and had been rebranded as Gold partners instead, but at the time Citrix remained tight-lipped about its decision to demote the firms.

But today the virtualisation giant spoke up and said the move was prompted by a partner programme overhaul which was unveiled last May and came into force at the end of January.

It said the rejig was completed in response to growing customer demand for higher levels of competency from its partners, which eventually drove the decision to knock Esteem, Point to Point and Intercept down a rung.

In the past, Citrix's partner programme was run on an "invite-only" basis - meaning the vendor had the final say on which partners were on each level - but this element has been scrapped in an effort to become more transparent, according to the firm's channel director for northern Europe Kevin Bland (pictured).

"In re-aligning the goals, there has been movement of partners," he said. "Citrix worked proactively with those partners that were at risk of losing Platinum status to take every opportunity to ensure re-enrolment. None of the partners that lost Platinum status have any less skills or experience than before the programme change; Citrix still views them as important, invested partners."

Bland added that some partners had been moved from Gold down to Silver status, but that other resellers had also climbed the ranks. He declined to divulge which partners were affected.

He added that the partner programme overhaul which drove the partner status reshuffle was discussed all along with partners, who understood the need for change.

"Our partners understand that the changes are necessary to deliver the kinds of solutions our customers need in this increasingly demanding and complex marketplace, and ultimately will help to ensure the long-term success of our joint businesses," he said.