Kaspersky Lab has chosen to use only two distributors in New Zealand – SMS eTechnologies and its newly-appointed local partner Express Data, but will no longer use Microbe as a distributor here.
Microbe crossed the Tasman in 2007 to distribute Kaspersky and appointed local channel manager Ivan Rasquinha.
In 2009 it added the distributorship for anti-virus and content protection vendor eScan.
Australian-based general manager for Microbe, Nick Barnitt, says his company will continue to sell Kaspersky in New Zealand but has disestablished its local office to save costs.
Rasquinha has left the company and Microbe’s New Zealand business will be run from Australia, although it will retain local phone numbers, Barnitt says.
In an emailed statement, Kaspersky said it would work with Express Data and SMS eTechnologies on “significant” opportunities in the SMB and corporate markets here.
“We have built a partner ecosystem of more than 100 resellers in New Zealand and next year will be an even bigger year for the Kaspersky Lab business in New Zealand, as we increase our investment in our partner network,” the statement said.
