Fortinet, a network security company, announced that it has set up a Carrier & Service Provider division within its Southeast Asia and Hong Kong operations and has appointed Ng Hwee Boon and Chang Wai Leong as Regional Directors to head the division.
[(Seated) Ng Hwee Boon (Standing) Chang Wai Leong]
These appointments are part of Fortinet’s strategy to capitalize on the regional carriers’ rapid business growth, as they strive to support new businesses being set up in the developing region, and urbanizing consumers eager to embrace smart mobile technologies.
Ng will spearhead Fortinet’s managed security services business while Chang will focus on telco data centres. Between them, Ng and Chang will cover all the markets in Fortinet’s Southeast Asia and Hong Kong region.
“Sophisticated and targeted attacks against businesses have grown to such an extent that many in-house IT teams are finding it hard to keep up. This drives organizations to turn to external parties for help − managed security service providers are best placed to provide this expertise and their business will grow steadily in the years ahead,” said Cathy Huang, Industry Manager, ICT Practice, Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific.
The company said that Ng and Chang are veterans with more than two decades of experience each in senior business management and sales roles. Ng has worked for SingTel, Tata Communications and Cisco Systems, while Chang has served with SingTel, OpenNet and Conversant Solutions. Both executives have an extensive network of industry contacts and thorough knowledge of sales, channel and support functions in the telecom space.
“Key sectors like telecom, banking and government have become vital pillars of our business as the region grew,” said Dato’ Seri George Chang, Fortinet’s Vice President for Southeast Asia & Hong Kong. “Dedicated regional vertical executives like Ng and Chang − together with local vertical staff we will hire over the coming months − will take Fortinet to the next level in understanding and responding to customers’ unique needs in each industry.”
