Webroot boosts EMEA consumer focus

by Stuart Wilson, Tuesday 29 September 2009

Webroot has appointed David Bennett as director of EMEA consumer business development

Internet security outfit Webroot wants a bigger slice of the pie in EMEA’s consumer market. Webroot has appointed David Bennett - a former Lenovo and Sony channel executive – as director of EMEA consumer business development, effective immediately. Bennett will be responsible for driving the overall business strategy, sales, marketing and channel management for Webroot’s consumer unit in EMEA.

“We are pleased to have David on board at an exciting time in Webroot’s history,” said Paul Lipman, senior VP and general manager, consumer business unit at Webroot. “The company has established itself as one of the major players in Internet security worldwide and David’s experience and proven ability in establishing and successfully growing businesses within EMEA will help us expand this position.”

Bennett said: “With Webroot’s breadth of products, including a security suite - Webroot internet security essentials - and its award-winning Webroot antivirus with antispyware software, my immediate focus will be to expand the company’s reach.”

“This will include investing heavily in new routes to market such as greater retail and online penetration; increased distribution across different geographies, and the exploration of relevant sectors such as telecommunications and finance,” he added.

Bennett comes to Webroot most recently from Lenovo, where he was responsible for the start-up and acceleration of the group’s consumer division. He was also instrumental in establishing the product portfolio and creating new channels as Lenovo expanded into new EMEA territories.

Prior to Lenovo, Bennett was general manager EMEA channel sales at Sony Europe, where he led a US$500 million turnover storage and LCD computer displays business focused on the consumer and SME market.

Bennett has also held senior roles at Kingston Technology and Tech Data and has more than 15 years EMEA channel and retail experience.