Six Sophos Executives on CRN's 2016 Women of the Channel List

BURLINGTON, MA--(Marketwired - May 23, 2016) -

• Six women from Sophos channel and marketing teams recognized for the second year running
• Kendra Krause included on CRN's Power 100 List
• Sophos receives 5-Star rating in CRN's 2016 Partner Program Guide

Sophos (LSE: SOPH), a global leader in network and endpoint security, today announced that CRN^®, a brand of The Channel Company, has named six women from Sophos' channel and marketing teams to its prestigious 2016 Women of the Channel list. The executives who comprise this annual list span the IT channel, representing vendors, distributors, solution providers and other organizations that figure prominently in the channel ecosystem. Each is recognized for her outstanding leadership, vision, and unique role in driving channel growth and innovation. This is the second year in a row all six Sophos executives are acknowledged.

Kendra Krause, vice president, global channels; Justine Lewis, vice president, worldwide field and channel marketing; Erin Malone, vice president, North America channel sales; Caralyn Stern, director of marketing, Americas; Regina Vignone, director of channel sales; and Melissa Lyons, global channel programs manager were selected by the editors of CRN due to their professional accomplishments, demonstrated expertise and ongoing dedication to the IT channel. No other security-focused vendor had as many leaders on the list. 

CRN also included Kendra Krause on its Power 100 list, which highlights the most powerful women across IT channel organizations whose expertise and vision have positioned their companies for success.

"These executives have made a lasting mark on our industry -- growing and elevating partner programs, leading transitions to new business models and introducing cutting-edge go-to-market strategies, among other remarkable achievements," said Robert Faletra, CEO, The Channel Company. "We congratulate all the 2016 Women of the Channel and celebrate their singular contributions to the advancement of the channel ecosystem."

All six women played key roles in driving Sophos success in 2015 and continue to lead programs that support the company's channel first business strategy:

Kendra Krause worked with her team to launch the new MSP Connect program, which is a market differentiator with the incorporation of Sophos' Synchronized Security technology. MSP Connect also aligns with the way MSPs do business so that account management, billing and reporting are more efficient. Krause played a major role in unveiling the program worldwide on May 9.

Justine Lewis leads the global field and channel marketing teams globally. In 2015, Lewis focused on enabling local marketing to expand channel partnerships in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Asia, Pacific Rim and smaller, yet key regions. She also managed and rolled out Sophos' annual Partner Conference across three continents in one month, making a huge impact on the channel and solidifying Sophos position as a security leader in the small- to mid-size enterprise market. 

Erin Malone leads North American channel sales teams and Sophos' efforts to ensure channel partners have the support and tools they need to succeed. This year, Sophos North American partners completed an estimated 4,000 sales and technical certifications, fueling a four-fold return for partners who worked with Sophos on the certification. Malone's efforts also helped pave the way for further channel expansion with Sophos' new programs like MSP Connect.

Caralyn Stern ensures partners have the information and background they need to best serve their customers in an ever-changing security landscape. Stern led the innovative Break a Hacker's Heart roadshow to support Sophos' Synchronized Security technology. The roadshow took place in every region and let partners and customers learn firsthand about how threats operate today.

Regina Vignone worked closely with the U.S. East channel sales team to understand partner and customer security needs now and into the future. This effort helped Vignone match the best solutions to these needs, which in turn helped drive sales and partner growth. Her responsiveness to channel partners and putting strategic initiatives and plans in place enables partner success and profitability.

Melissa Lyons moved into a new role as global channel programs manager in 2015. She brought her expertise to local Sophos teams around the world, helping to roll out important channel programs, including the new MSP Connect program, a Not-For-Resale program and the Synchronized Security accreditation program. Lyons continues to help partners increase revenue through Sophos marketing and new tools that improve and streamline their business management.

"As a channel first, channel only company, solid, trusted relationships with partners located around the globe are essential. The 'Sophos Six' named on CRN's exclusive 'Women of the Channel' list bring their own unique management style, business savvy and expertise to Sophos, a key factor in maintaining and growing a strong presence as a leading security provider for the channel," said Mike Valentine, senior vice president of worldwide sales for Sophos. "It's a privilege to work with these women, and CRN's elite recognition is well-deserved."

The 2016 Women of the Channel list will be featured in the June issue of CRN Magazine and online at www.CRN.com/wotc2016.

These accolades follow Sophos's 5-Star rating in CRN's 2016 Partner Program Guide. This annual guide is the definitive listing of technology vendors that service solution providers or provide products through the IT channel. The 5-Star Partner Program Guide rating recognizes an elite subset of companies that offer solution providers the best partnering elements in their channel programs. The 2016 Partner Program Guide is featured on CRN online at www.CRN.com/ppg2016.

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About Sophos
More than 100 million users in 150 countries rely on Sophos' complete security solutions as the best protection against complex threats and data loss. Simple to deploy, manage and use, Sophos' award-winning encryption, endpoint security, web, email, mobile and network security solutions are backed by SophosLabs -- a global network of threat intelligence centers. Sophos is headquartered in Oxford, U.K., and is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol "SOPH." More information is available at www.sophos.com.

About the Channel Company
The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelco.com

CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. The Channel Company logo is a trademark of The Channel Company, LLC (registration pending). All rights reserved.