Cisco Systems appoints new vice president for channels & alliances in EMEA

In his new role as Vice President, Edzard Overbeek will be responsible for strategy and operations throughout EMEA, providing channel partners with the training, tools and resources to help increase profitability. In addition he will be part of the global channel leadership team led by Paul Mountford, VP WW Channels.

"The Middle East region is particularly exciting for Cisco. We are seeing some large deployments of new e-business technologies in the region and the number of Channel Partners who are applying for and successfully completing our technology and services specialisation accreditations is a credit to their forward-thinking management. We will continue to support all of our channel partners in their efforts to improve the services and solutions they are able to provide their customers and I look forward to meeting them in the near future to discuss how we can enhance service to even higher levels." said Edzard Overbeek, Vice President of Channels & Alliances, Cisco Systems EMEA.

Commenting on Edzard Overbeek's appointment, Robert Lloyd, Cisco President EMEA Operations, said, "This appointment reflects Edzard Overbeek's strategic abilities and his leadership skills, and underscores that channel partners are key to Cisco's growth and maintaining its position as the network channel leader."

Edzard Overbeek, who joined Cisco in June 2000, was previously the General Manager of Cisco Systems Netherlands, where he was responsible for the successful expansion of the sales and marketing activities of Cisco Systems in the Netherlands, which he achieved amongst other things, by successfully collaborating with European and Dutch ecosystem partners.

Edzard Overbeek has worked in the IT industry since 1991 and brings to this position a strong industry background, including increasingly senior management positions with Fujitsu ICL Trading, the ICP division of Siemens and with a leading Dutch channel organisation.

In December 1998, Edzard Overbeek obtained a Master's degree in Business Administration at NIMBAS, an MBA course at the University of Bradford (UK).