NetApp appoints Christine Heckart Chief Marketing Officer

NetApp (NASDAQ: NTAP) today announced the appointment of Christine Heckart to the role of chief marketing officer (CMO). Effective immediately, Heckart will be responsible for all aspects of NetApp's global corporate marketing organisation and report to Tom Georgens, president and CEO of NetApp.

Jay Kidd, who formerly held the position of CMO, was named senior vice-president, Product Strategy and Development, Storage Solutions Group. He will be responsible for NetApp's product development portfolio strategy and technical alliance relationships, and will lead the NAS, SAN, data protection, and manageability business units.

"Christine's marketing and communications expertise and proven track record will be instrumental as we continue to increase the awareness of NetApp in the global marketplace," said Georgens. "This is an exciting time for NetApp as we adapt our marketing strategies to address the emerging ways that companies are deploying IT and managing their data centres. I look forward to working with Christine as we capitalise on these new opportunities."

"NetApp's brand campaign during the past two years has successfully increased both aided and unaided awareness globally, especially among the strategic decision-maker," said Heckart. "Our brand is truly valued and respected among our current customer base, and extending our relationship with new customers will be important to our continued growth. I am thrilled to join the NetApp team and add to its success."

Throughout her 21-year career, Heckart has played an integral role in the marketing and growth strategies of successful technology companies.

Before joining NetApp, she was general manager of marketing for the TV, Video, and Music Business at Microsoft Corporation. Previously, she was vice-president and CMO of Worldwide Marketing for Juniper Networks, responsible for all aspects of worldwide marketing.

Heckart is the author of The Guide to Frame Relay Networking and co-author of ATM for Dummies. An acknowledged industry thought leader, she was named one of Network World's "Top 10 Power Thinkers" and "50 Most Powerful People in the Industry". She has an economics degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder.