Steve Surfaro is one of those guys that fills a room with his presence. And now he'll apply his many attributes to Axis' channel program. Surfaro left Panasonic and took the job as strategic channel manager and security industry liaison for Axis.
Fredrik Nilsson, US General Manager and chief schmoozmeister for Axis, will no doubt appreciate Steve Surfaro's ability to work a room. It seems that Nilsson is omnipresent at industry events, but maybe Surfaro can bear some of the load.
Steve's job won't just be schmoozing with the security gang. Axis has to grow. So Surfaro has to work his magic. He'll have to continue to help promote integration between Axis cameras and 3rd party software and hardware. He'll have to get the remote video monitoring business off the ground in a highly competitive niche, and he'll face a Sisyphean feat (or fate?) of pushing a stubborn and status quo-oriented industry up to the brave new world of data and information management.
Rock n' roll, Surf!
Strategic Channel Manager and Security Industry Liaison
High-Profile Former Panasonic Exec Brings More Than
20 Years of Industry Experience
CHELMSFORD, Mass. – August 26, 2008 – Axis Communications, the global leader in the network video market, today announced that it has named Steve Surfaro as strategic channel manager and security industry liaison.
Surfaro will work with industry organizations such as ASIS, BICSI and SIA, as well as Axis’ software and hardware partners to raise the awareness of network video solutions in the industry. He will also work to expand Axis’ technology partnership program to ensure the availability of best-of-breed network video solutions. He will report to Dr. Jumbi Edulbehram, director, strategic channel.
Surfaro has more than 20 years of security industry experience. Prior to Axis, Surfaro served for 12 years at Panasonic as group manager, strategic technical liaison. In that role, he served as the public face of the company to the security industry. Before that, he was an account manager for Wells Fargo Alarm Services. He is a member of the ASIS Physical Security Council, chairman of that council's education subcommittee and is responsible for consistent workshop content. Surfaro is regular contributor to BICSI as well as SIA's Digital Video Standards. He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from The Cooper Union.
“Steve brings tremendous knowledge and energy to Axis, and is a well respected educator and speaker in the security industry,” said Fredrik Nilsson, general manager of Axis Communications, Inc. “We are very excited to have Steve join Axis and look forward to his important upcoming work with industry organizations as well as partners and customers.”
About Axis Communications
Axis is an IT company offering network video solutions for professional
installations. The company is the global market leader in network video,
driving the ongoing shift from analog to digital video surveillance. Axis
products and solutions focus on security surveillance and remote monitoring,
and are based on innovative, open technology platforms.
Axis is a Swedish-based company, operating worldwide with offices in more than 20 countries and cooperating with partners in more than 70 countries. Founded in 1984, Axis is listed on the OMX Nordic Exchange, under the ticker AXIS. For more information about Axis, please visit our website at www.axis.com.
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Contacts:
George Cohen (for Axis) Valerie Wehler
617-325-0011 978-614-2068
Congratulations Steve!
You will certainly be an asset to the Axis team.
Posted by: Michael D. Glasser | August 26, 2008 at 08:05 AM
What do you think this means for Pano? Does Steve jump ship because he sees a brighter future with Axis, or is it more of the challenge that he's into? or maybe Axis came with a financial offer he couldn't refuse ;)
Posted by: Paul Grefenstette | August 26, 2008 at 06:44 PM
You kidding?
Hmmm...Axis or Pano? Which one is cooler and more exciting...?
Duh.
Pano makes a few really excellent products, but its portfolio of products taken as a whole doesn't exactly give me goosebumps. And its approach it innovation is only slightly ahead of foot draggers like American Dynamics.
Posted by: Steve Hunt | August 27, 2008 at 02:30 PM