The Leadership Team
We believe in the power of the channel to deliver technology innovations that drive business growth. We exist to help our channel partners stay relevant and add value to their customers in a world of rapid change, growing complexity and heightened security threats.
Ignition’s leadership team has over 8 decades of information security industry experience and expertise. The heritage of our founders in bringing new and emerging information security technologies to market has enabled us to forge strong relationships with investors, analysts and technology entrepreneurs, giving us unique insights and access to the latest disruptive innovation coming from technology hotspots such as the US and Israel.
Combining this with our relationships with C-suite decision-makers and influencers within end-user organisations – understanding their business goals and challenges – we can map a portfolio of technologies and services to help our partners deliver complete security solutions and support that address real business needs, thereby enabling resellers to stay relevant and end-users to stay protected and connected.
PETER LEDGER
CEO
Peter has a wealth of experience in taking leading, cutting edge security and networking technologies to market both directly to end customers and through a multi-tier channel model.
He was co-founder and Sales Director of Quadrant Networks, a UK based VAR that specialised in working with innovative security and networking technology companies selling to large financial institutions, e-commerce, online gaming and travel companies to name a few.
Peter was instrumental in building and leading the sales and marketing operation. Quadrant Networks was successfully sold to the SecureData group in 2012, where he became Enterprise Sales Director.
SEAN REMNANT
CSO
Over the last 25 years Sean has held a number of Technical Director roles in successful UK and EMEA focused security distribution companies (Exclusive Networks, Vadition, and Equip Technology). With responsibilities for product selection and the technical services business units.
Primarily focussing on identifying and bringing new, disruptive and innovative solutions to market, some of the more successful vendors over the years being Netscreen, Neoteris and more recently Palo Alto Networks & FireEye.
Sean is Ignition’s Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), and is responsible for shaping the company’s technology and service offerings for our partners.
PAUL RISK
CTO
After nearly two decades in the IT security and networking industry, Paul has vast experience in both the technical and commercial aspects of this fast-changing industry.
Having worked for several technology manufacturers, distributors, and resellers he has a unique understanding of the challenges and pressures throughout the whole channel.
After co-founding Quadrant Networks in 2008 as Technical Director, within four years they became widely regarded as the UK specialist in deploying and supporting application delivery and security solutions.
Quadrant Networks was acquired by the SecureData group in November 2012, where Paul took on the role of Chief Technology Officer. He was instrumental in the transformation of the business over the following two years.
PHILIP BROWN
CFO
Philip is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales. He has worked in IT Distribution and the IT Channel for 19 years and has been responsible for managing the demands of rapid growth businesses as they undertake their journey from start up to flotation or sale.
In the last 15 years Philip has been involved with the development of numerous successful high growth businesses including Equip Technology, Data Integration, Cohort Technology, Pasporte, Corporate Communications Europe and Quadrant Networks. Prior to working in the IT industry Philip was the UK Head of Finance, Treasury and Taxation for a large Pharmaceutical Corporation.
Most recently Philip was the CFO of MTI Technology which is one of EMC’s largest European partners. During his time at MTI the business doubled in size and Philip managed the M&A activity along with corporate strategy.
DAVE RISK
UK & IRELAND COUNTRY MANAGER
Dave has vast experience in cyber security with a background in Sales and Management in both Resellers and Distribution, notably including NTT and Exclusive Networks.
During his 20 years in the industry, he has worked with many market-leading vendors such as Checkpoint, Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet, F5, and Cylance, he understands the intricacies of the channel and the variety of partners from small consultancies through to large integrators, understanding what they require from a distribution partner in order to grow their business
Having been with Ignition since the company was 6 months old he has played a pivotal role in the company’s growth, in his capacity as UK country manager Dave is responsible for the largest entity of the Ignition Group.
MIKKO VAAJAMO
MANAGING DIRECTOR NORTHERN EUROPE
For more than two decades within the security distribution market, Mikko has held a number of successful management and board member roles in EMEA and the Nordics.
He has worked within a number of value added distributors such as Securesoft, Computerlinks and Exclusive Networks as well as developing a community with his many advisory and board roles within customers and manufacturers alike including Check Point, RSA Security, Juniper, Palo Alto, FireEye and Arbor Networks.
Since being a co-founder of Securesoft Group in 1998, Mikko has been introducing new innovative security and networking technologies to different territories winning many best in EMEA awards together with his teams. With this knowledge he will be running the Northern European team that will have over 18 years of collaborative working experience.
MARKO LINDSTEDT
SALES DIRECTOR NORTHERN EUROPE
Marko has over 20 years of IT experience, operating at a high level within multiple leading US technology companies in security, cloud, networking and application delivery. In addition to driving sales teams in senior management positions to achieve targets, Marko has had exposure in driving teams in various international environments including Northern and Eastern Europe & Russia.
Having worked across the channel, Marko has amassed invaluable experience working in several manufacturers, distributors, resellers and customers both in large enterprises through to niche service providers. His exposure to high pressure sales roles, reaching VP of North East EMEA at F5 Networks, gives Marko the experience needed to ignite sales growth for Ignition in Northern Europe.
MARKUS LAAKSONEN
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR NORTHERN EUROPE
Markus has been working in IT for nearly 20 years, working across the channel including resellers, distributors and vendors. For the last 7 years, he was working for Palo Alto Networks, more recently focusing on major accounts. Markus was one of the first employees operating in the Nordics for Palo, diligently working to build the brand from a stage of obscurity to the top performing firewall vendor in the region.
Bringing products to market has been an area of great interest, driving Markus and his teams. Prior to Palo, Markus worked for distributor Computerlinks for 4 years and was responsible for Checkpoint, Sourcefire, RSA, EMC and VMware. Before that, he worked within resellers Nordic Lan&Wan, as well as Novo Group (now CGI). Markus will now be leading and delivering on the technical capabilities of Ignition in the Nordic region, creating value across the Nordic channel.