John Maynard Talks About His Transition to Palo Alto Networks
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John Maynard
John Maynard kicked off 2025 with a new challenge, transitioning from a cybersecurity partner role to becoming the vice president of SASE, EMEA and LATAM at Palo Alto Networks.
Having spent four years as the CEO of Adarma Security, Maynard now leads Palo Alto Networks’ SASE offering in the two regions, overseeing products like Prisma SD-WAN, Prisma Access portfolios, and the Prisma Access Browser acquired through the Talon Cyber Security acquisition.
In an exclusive interview with CRN, Maynard shares insights on his career move, top priorities, and partner strategies.
Why did you leave Adarma Security?
After leading Adarma Security for four years, I felt it was time to explore a more international role in a high-growth cybersecurity area. Joining Palo Alto Networks allowed me to delve back into the Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) space, which aligns with the company’s strategic focus and the evolving needs of clients.
How did this new role with Palo Alto Networks come about? And when did you officially start?
After a six-month break to reflect on my career path, I connected with former colleagues who had joined Palo Alto Networks and saw the potential for impactful industry transformation. The platformisation approach and emphasis on SASE integration resonated with me, leading to my official start on February 3rd.
What are your immediate priorities in your new role? Do they differ from your long-term priorities for the rest of 2025?
Driving growth in the SASE portfolio, particularly through partner-led deals, is a key focus. I aim to strengthen partnerships and educate teams across EMEA and LATAM on the value of SASE, paving the way for network and security convergence discussions with customers.
What’s the one thing you’d like to achieve in the role by the end of 2025?
I aspire to promote Prisma Access Browser adoption among partners, enhancing security measures for customers and sparking conversations around zero trust architecture. The integrated browser strategy within SASE is a pivotal area of emphasis for me.
What are some of Palo Alto’s key technology areas that are driving the most amount of growth?
The growth of next-generation security solutions like Prisma SASE and Cortex, our AI-powered SecOps platform, is propelling our success. Innovations such as Prisma SASE 5G and Cortex Cloud are set to fuel further growth in these areas.
Are you looking either to expand or reduce the number of partners Palo Alto works with in the UK?
I aim to onboard partners into the SASE space while enabling existing partners to maximize their SASE offerings. Collaborating with service providers and system integrators will be a focus to drive managed services around SASE products.
In which areas would you most like to see your partners invest over the next 12 months?
I encourage partners to scale their adoption of our secure enterprise browser, integrate it holistically into the SASE portfolio, and build comprehensive managed services around these solutions.
What are some of the top challenges currently facing the business?
Rapid company growth presents exciting challenges in scaling the channel partner ecosystem effectively. Ensuring partners are equipped to offer our full range of services to customers is crucial for sustained success.
And what about the top challenges for your partners?
Partners face hurdles in delivering lifecycle services for SaaS solutions, managing complexity in the marketplace, and keeping pace with technological advancements. Our integrated platformisation approach aims to support partners in driving high returns and navigating these challenges.