HPE appoints Heather Walls to lead Ireland channel push

Marking the launch of the company's new channel programme for 2023, HPE Ireland has announced the appointment of Heather Walls as its new channel leader for the region.

Reporting to UK and Ireland channel director Lewis Simmonds, Walls will lead the refreshed initiative which aims to breathe new life into HPE’s partnerships in Ireland and drive further growth through its portfolio.

In an announcement, Walls highlighted channel partners’ importance and their role as a core driver for HPE’s overall business - including its HPE GreenLake strategy.

“My top priorities will be to strengthen the relationship with our Irish partners, find out how we can better support them and help them reach new markets and unlock new revenue streams,” she said.

“With an over 90% increase in HPE GreenLake sales through Ireland channel partners in just the last quarter, we are particularly excited to see that this strategy is working.”

Since joining the business as a graduate in 2012, Walls has worked as a storage specialist, a partner business manager, and has also lead the HPE Early Career sales programme.

In her new role as channel lead, HPE said she will support the company’s investment in local talent to grow its channel team and bring fresh Irish talent on board.

Commenting on the appointment, HPE Ireland managing director Ray McGann said Walls will “play a critical role” in driving satisfaction and growth.

“With her track record for success in helping partners leverage the entire HPE portfolio to support their customers to transform with market trends, as well as her expertise in developing early career talent, she is a great asset for the entire team,” he said.

Simmonds added: “we’re a partner-first organisation, with a majority of our business going through channel. To continue our success, we need to prioritise the promotion of top talent with a partner-first mindset.”

HPE Ireland's channel programme for 2023

Among its changes, HPE’s revamped channel programme is placing a key focus on the new HPE Partner Ready Vantage scheme - a purpose-built initiative that seeks to provide a unified framework for all hybrid cloud and HPE Aruba Networking partners.

First announced in 2022, HPE said this framework will help deepen customer relationships and accelerate partner growth aligned to the customer lifecycle. HPE Partner Ready Vantage is due to roll out in phases over the next few years.

The firm is also placing a renewed emphasis on face-to-face channel events in the wake of its recent HPE Gen11 Event tour, which showcased its ProLiant Gen11 portfolio in Cork, Galway, Belfast, and Dublin.

The company has invited more than 100 channel partners to its signature Ireland Channel event coming up in March, which will focus on market trends, shared opportunities, as well as the recognition of all Irish partners for their commitment to HPE, the firm said.