Exclusive Group named Palo Alto Networks' European Distributor of the Year

Exclusive Networks Group, the Pan-European value-added distributor of security, storage and networking technologies, has been awarded 'European Distributor of the Year' by next-generation firewall vendor Palo Alto Networks.  The accolade comes in recognition of Exclusive's outstanding contribution during 2011 to sales revenues and partner recruitment in the Nordics, Southern Europe, France, Benelux and the UK**.

 
"We are thrilled to have won this award; it is testament to all our work over the last few years and recognises the investment the whole Group has made in supporting market growth in all target verticals and key territories," commented Olivier Breittmayer, CEO of Exclusive Networks Group. "We value our close partnership with Palo Alto Networks; a partnership which has reaped significant dividends for all those concerned, including hundreds of resellers across the main European markets."
 
"Palo Alto Networks has been a real success story in the UK which once again delivered the largest revenue numbers, and we're very pleased to have contributed to this award," said Neil Ledger, co-founder of VADition, part of the Exclusive Networks Group.  "Our huge investment in PALO ALTO NETWORKS is recognised by the fact we are the only Advanced Support and Training Centre Distributor on the continent, continue to lead in the delivery of partner recruitment and end user sales lead generation and carry on making significant investments in the tools and infrastructure needed to accelerate this explosive growth."
 
"A disruptive, trail blazing technology vendor needs pioneers and this is exactly what the Exclusive Group epitomises, "said Karl Driesen, vice president of EMEA at Palo Alto Networks.  "Palo Alto Networks is a 100% channel-to-market outfit, and achieving over triple-digit growth rates across the continent year on year makes us wholly reliant on committed and passionate distribution partners; the Exclusive Group is certainly recognised in this respect and the award is well merited."
 
Breittmayer, summing up the award commented: "Are we happy about this award?  Yes, absolutely!  Are we continuing to celebrate? No because this is only the beginning; we have significant plans to invest even more in services, infrastructure, and extending the reach and availability right across the continent into Eastern Europe and even further afield.  Sit tight and hold on - this is going to be an exciting and worthwhile journey for all those VARs who want to join us for the ride!"
 
**This includes the contribution made by VADition (part of the Exclusive Networks Group since June 2011) which has distribution rights for Palo Alto Networks for the UK, and is a distributor in Benelux.