After helping to turn Avaya into a channel-first sales organization and oversee the integration of Nortel Networks’ channel program and partners, Jeremy Butt is preparing to step down as the networking vendor’s vice-president of worldwide channels.
In an interview with CDN, Deborah Kline, senior manager of public relations with Avaya, confirmed that Butt would be leaving the company shortly.
“He came to Avaya with a really difficult task has eluded us previously: turning a largely direct sales organization into one that’s channel centric,” said Kline. “We integrated Nortel and he has done what he set out to do. He launched a new global channel program and we now have 78 per cent (of sales through the channel).”
After a busy four years, Kline said Butt is ready to relax for a little bit before considering his future opportunities. Butt reported to Tom Mitchell, who joined Avaya nearly two years ago as senior vice-president and president, Avaya Go to Market. Kline said some channel responsibilities will be shifted amongst the team but Miller will take on the worldwide channel responsibility, and doesn’t currently plan to backfill Butt’s position.
As a senior Avaya executive and member of the vendor’s executive committee, Kline said Mitchell will give the channel a voice at the company’s highest level.
In 2009, CDN spoke with Butt at Avaya’s channel conference about his plans to re-wire Avaya for a focus on the indirect go to market, and filed this video report.
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