Meru Networks Appoints Industry Veteran Gary Abad Vice President of Channel Sales

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Feb. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Meru Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: MERU), the leader in virtualized 802.11 enterprise wireless networking, today announced the appointment of channel sales and WLAN veteran, Gary Abad, as vice president of channel sales.  Meru also announced that in 2011 channel revenues grew by 20 percent, and in the past year, channel partners delivered ninety three percent of Meru's overall shipments. Meru closed 2011 with close to 1,000 partners worldwide.

Additionally, Meru recognized top valued-added reseller partners who demonstrate technical expertise and vertical market acumen as part of its yearly Partner of the Year awards program.  Recognized were: Capita, the UK's leading business process outsourcing company, partnering with Meru for success in the UK education sector; Frontrunner Network Systems, a comprehensive business communication solutions provider for voice, video and data in the US; Integra, a telecommunication solution and custom-design service provider for the K-12 market in Canada; and Wavelink, a distributor of IP, wireless, communication, network security and access solutions in Australia.

Abad joins Meru as an accomplished channel sales leader with 20 years experience building strategic alliances and strong partnerships with leading value added resellers and systems integrators around the globe. Abad is responsible for growing Meru's channel partner program, increasing channel penetration and providing Meru channel partners with best-in-class support as they address increasing customer demand for WLAN technology that helps enterprise customers provide uncompromised mobility as thousands of devices enter the enterprise.   

"We look at all of our partnerships in terms of value––value to our enterprise customers and expertise in advanced mobility solutions," said Gary Abad, vice president of worldwide sales channels.  "We have seen a proliferation of devices hit our customers' networks, regardless of geography or vertical market.  These top performing channel partners were the backbone of our growth in 2011 because they bring more than technological knowledge to our customers. They bring deep vertical expertise that enables customers to implement Meru wireless solutions in a secure, scalable, cost effective manner. I look forward to working with these leaders as we bring new products and services to market."

Partner Support for Meru:

"Since Wavelink commenced sales of Meru around two and a half years ago, the partnership with Meru has rapidly blossomed. As this partnership continues to evolve, Wavelink is on track to grow Meru sales by over 50 percent year on year in our current financial year. Receiving the APAC Partner of the Year award is recognition of the efforts made by both the Wavelink and Meru teams to establish and grow our mutual business," said Ilan Rubin, CEO, Wavelink.

"This acknowledgment is a true testament to the strides Frontrunner Network Systems has taken to become a premier Wireless LAN solutions provider.  Our partnership with Meru has proven to be a successful one, as Wireless LAN sales continue to represent one of our core business drivers.  Meru's virtualization technology is the differentiator we need to obtain new business in today's highly competitive climate.  As market trends continue towards the all – wireless enterprise, we are excited to grow our relationship with Meru Networks and look forward to continued success," offered Jim Keegan, Vice President/General Manager.

"Integra Data Systems Corp. is honored to receive Meru Networks 2011 Worldwide Partner of the Year Award. Integra has been providing leading edge technology solutions and services for over 16 years.  We are constantly improving our product and services offerings for our clients. When looking for a Wi-Fi solution our requirement was an industry-leading product offering that would make a difference for our customers.  After extensive research Meru was chosen as the industry leader.  Our customers' acceptance of the Meru solution demonstrates that we made the right decision.  Integra's team focus on the Education market in Ontario has resulted in Meru being implemented in universities, and in the majority of school districts throughout Ontario. We look forward to many more years of continued success with Meru," commented Joel Gates, Director of Sales, Integra Data Systems Corporation.

"We have been working with Meru Networks for over three years and have successfully implemented their virtual cell technology to over 60 schools in the UK. We chose Meru as our wireless partner in education due to their unique and innovative solution that has enabled Capita to differentiate in this sector. They are the only wireless vendor that directly addresses the wireless challenges and density requirements that are found within an education environment. We have found Meru to be very professional and flexible with a keen focus on customer satisfaction and personalization. Above all else – their technology simply works!" said Chris Bignell, Business Development, Capita IT Services.

Enterprise demand for Meru wireless products is on the rise. Meru plans to aggressively build its worldwide channel partner team during 2012 to address the demand for Meru's leading virtualized wireless solutions. Meru seeks technically astute reseller partners with a commitment customer service excellence and enabling the all-wireless enterprise.  More information on joining Meru's channel or technology partner programs can be found on the Meru website.  Meru works with its partners to develop the innovative solutions to today's enterprise's IT challenges – from BYOD to guest access and unified communications. Additional resources can be found at Access Point, the Meru blog, and Twitter.

About Meru Networks

Founded in 2002, Meru Networks provides a virtualized wireless LAN architecture that cost-effectively delivers the performance, reliability, predictability and operational simplicity of a wired network, with the advantages of mobility. Meru's solution represents an innovative, yet standards-based approach to wireless networking that utilizes virtualization technology to create an intelligent and self-monitoring wireless network, enabling enterprises to migrate their business-critical applications from wired networks to wireless networks, to become all-wireless enterprises. Meru's solutions have been adopted in all major industry vertical markets, including Fortune 500 enterprises, healthcare, education, retail, manufacturing, hospitality and government. Meru is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., and has operations in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. For more information, visit Meru Investor Information or call (408) 215-5300.

Meru Networks is a registered trademark of Meru Networks, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements and information. All statements other than statements of historical facts that address activities, events or developments that we expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward- looking statements.  Such statements include, but are not limited to those statements regarding the company's ability to grow its channel partner program, increasing penetration and providing channel partners best-in-class support, increasing customer demand for WLAN technology that helps enterprise customers provide uncompromised mobility, the ability to bring deep vertical expertise to implement wireless solutions in a secure scalable, cost effective manner, the ability of Wavelink to grow Meru sales by over 50 percent year on year, continued success with Integra Data Systems Corporation, and Meru's plans to aggressively build its worldwide channel partner team during 2012 to address the demand for Meru's leading virtualize wireless solutions.    We have identified some of these forward-looking statements with words like "believe," "may," "will," "should," "expect," "intend," "plan," "predict," "anticipate," "estimate" or "continue" and other words and terms of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including the risk that the market for Meru's solutions may not grow as the company expects; risks related to a lengthening customer approval processes, including lengthening of budget approval processes and funding uncertainty for domestic education customers; the risk that continuing investment in sales and marketing coverage and capacity will fail to diversify the company's customer mix or mitigate against the uncertainty of governmental funding; and the other risks and uncertainties described under the caption "Risk Factors" in Meru Networks' quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, on November 8, 2011, as well as additional reports filed with the SEC. These forward-looking statements also involve assumptions that, if they do not fully materialize or prove incorrect, could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial conditions, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to us as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, new developments or otherwise.

SOURCE Meru Networks, Inc.