Cisco Channels Appoints VP To Handle Distribution Strategy

Arey will be responsible for implementing a new approach to distribution at Cisco, including consolidation of distributors, logistics management, policy implementation and process automation and systems integration with key global distributors.

While the company will reduce its number of distributors worldwide, it has no plans to eliminate any of the three distributors it works with in the United States, Cisco said.

"Paris' successful seven-year Cisco tenure, his broad channel expertise, and especially his recent [European] channel leadership experience, are vital for building the cross-organizational team required to lead this key and complex global initiative, which will have a positive impact on one-third of our business worldwide," said Paul Mountford, vice president of worldwide channels at Cisco. "I am confident that under Paris' leadership--with his tenacious and results-focused management style and his international perspective--this global distribution strategy will be a pivotal element of our future commercial market success."

Arey spent the past two years as vice president of channels and alliances for Cisco's Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) theater. Under his leadership, Arey's team evolved the region's channel strategy and increased partner collaboration in EMEA, including launching a new distribution strategy.

Cisco will formally introduce Arey to its channel partners at the company's annual partner summit in Las Vegas next week.