Bird swoops into F5 role

Keith Bird replaces Myles Bray as UK boss

F5 Networks has unveiled Keith Bird as its new UK sales boss following the departure of predecessor Myles Bray.

Bray recently left the application delivery vendor to head up network access control vendor ForeScout's EMEA sales.

Bird (pictured), who recently exited a senior EMEA role at Symantec and has also worked for Check Point and SonicWall, has been announced as Bray's replacement in the role of senior vice president of sales for the UK and Ireland.

Bird's arrival at F5 last Monday follows a change in leadership at the top of F5, with John McAdam taking over CEO duties from Manuel Rivelo in December.

In its recently ended fiscal 2015, F5 saw revenues rise 11 per cent to $1.92bn (£1.34bn) and the vendor said Bird's background would help drive its "burgeoning" business.

Talking to CRN, Bird claimed he is joining the firm at an exciting time.

"Many people in the market think about F5 in terms of load balancing and delivery of applications," he said. "The wider proposition that perhaps people aren't familiar with is that we not only ensure that applications perform as they should but that the applications are secure as well. Our portfolio of security solutions may surprise some channel partners if they haven't spoken to F5 for a while."

Bird will report to EMEA vice president of sales, Lizzie Cohen-Laloum.