Novell"s top channel executive, Nancy Reynolds, left the company last week, a Novell spokesperson confirmed.
Solution providers have credited Reynolds, vice president of North American channel sales and a 14-year company veteran, with helping Novell re-engage with channel partners after its foray into a more direct-sales model that alienated many longtime partners.
"This is a little disturbing. They are doing some great work now, and they have some momentum," said John Riddle, president of Information Networking, a Gold Novell partner in Irvine, Calif.
Like many of Novell"s partners, Riddle had not yet been informed of the change in channel management at Novell and said he would reserve additional comment until he learned more. Word of Reynolds" departure began to circulate when a regional sales representative in Northern California sent out an e-mail informing some of his channel customers of the change.