Nutanix VP Chris Kozup Returns To Aruba Networks: CRN Exclusive
In a new and expanded role, Chris Kozup will take on global marketing efforts, including field, product and channel marketing, for Aruba Networks while working closely with HPE's marketing leaders.
Marketing veteran Chris Kozup has returned to Aruba Networks.
Kozup, formerly Nutanix's senior vice president of global marketing, started back at Aruba as the company's chief marketing officer on Monday, a spokesperson for Aruba, an HPE company, confirmed to CRN.
Kozup is no stranger to Aruba. The marketing executive served as the company's vice president of marketing mobility and IoT, as well as field marketing for Europe, the Middle East and Africa for two years prior to his stint leading marketing efforts for Nutanix.
In his new and expanded role, Kozup will be responsible for global marketing efforts, including field, product and channel marketing, as well as communications and newer marketing tactics, such as digital and direct marketing programs. He'll be specifically focusing on Aruba's brand narrative, which is important as Aruba evolves from a networking vendor to a company also focused on location-based services, security, and analytics.
He'll also be working tightly with HPE's CMO Jim Jackson to create more synergies across the HPE/Aruba organization, Aruba said.
Kozup will be taking over for Janice Le, Aruba's former chief marketer who left the company earlier this year and is now serving as senior vice president of global marketing for Palo Alto Networks.
"Kozup usually opens and closes shows like Aruba Atmosphere. He's got a big presence and he's very visible," a source close to Aruba said.
Prior to his roles with Nutanix and Aruba, Kozup served as Cisco's director of marketing for its Mobility and Access Switching portfolio. He also served as Program Director for the META Group, an analyst firm that was acquired by Gartner Research.