The Rector reckoning – DataDirect loses CMO

HPC and enterprise high-performance storage company DataDirect Networks has lost Molly Rector, its chief marketing officer, who has moved to take up a VP marketing role at Quantum.

Robert Triendl has been promoted to DataDirect's SVP global sales, marketing and field services from a position as SVP for HPC strategy.

He tells us: "While this has been long in the making, and certainly a career step for Molly, it was a bit unfortunate (at least from my perspective) and certainly had nothing to do with my appointment. Rather, I guess I did arrive too late to prevent this from happening ... That said, like any change in an organization, this is also an opportunity to do things differently."

He said, "It will be challenging to find somebody with the same level of charm and energy for outbound marketing."

Triendl is now responsible for DDN's global sales, marketing, product marketing, product management, field services and support functions. He says he will bring a focussed and technical approach to product management.

Quantum president and CEO Jon Gacek said in a canned quote: "Molly has a deep understanding of customers, their workflows, and what it takes to address their evolving storage and data management challenges. She also has a demonstrated record of success in expanding market opportunities and working closely with sales teams to drive profitable growth."

Rector said, "Having both competed against and partnered with Quantum over the years, I know what a strong technology and product portfolio the company has and how uniquely suited it is to meeting some of the most difficult storage challenges organizations are facing."

Bryce Hein was Quantum's marketing VP and he left in March this year to join Rocana as its marketing VP. Geoff Stedman was Quantum's SVP for StorNext Solutions and assumed responsibility for marketing in April this year, after Hein's departure.

Quantum tells us Molly Rector has "responsibility for corporate, field and channel marketing as well as sales development and enablement. Geoff will continue to have responsibility for product and solutions marketing, with the corresponding title of SVP, product and solutions marketing. ®