Andrew Potgieter, Sales Director SA, Climb.
climb channel solution (Climb), a global technology distributor and wholly owned subsidiary of NASDAQ-listed Climb Global Solutionshas entered the South African market as part of its ongoing EMEA growth strategy. The company has also entered into an agreement with cyber Security Firm Sophos.
According to the agreement, Climb will make Sophos' portfolio of security solutions available to South African resellers and managed service providers.
According to Sophos, it supports more than 600,000 organizations globally with its managed detection and response (MDR) offering. Its cybersecurity solutions portfolio includes MDR, endpoint, network, e-mail and cloud security, as well as extended detection and response, identity threat detection and response and next-generation security intelligence and event management.
Climb says its Midrand-based South African team, consisting of six Sophos-certified members, will be led by SA sales director Andrew Potgieter. He is tasked with leading the distributor's partner-first approach to the market.
Potgieter explains that SA has always been considered a deliberate next step in the company’s plan to build its EMEA presence.
“We are continuing to grow across the region through acquisitions in the UK and Ireland, organic expansion in DACH (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) and Eastern Europe, where – like South Africa – we have built teams from the ground up. Most recently, we strengthened our footprint in Southern Europe with an acquisition in Greece. We are now operating in more than 90 countries globally,” says Potgieter.
He added, “What's really encouraging is the early local response. In just two weeks, 78 Sophos VARs (value-added resellers) have requested a partnership with Climb, indicating a real appetite for a more focused, expert-led approach to distribution.”
cites Potgieter Sophos State of Ransomware 2025 ReportThat said, 71% of firms surveyed paid the ransom – a sharp increase from 43% in 2024.
“By establishing a permanent local presence from day one, Climb aims to bring stability, choice and an international perspective to the South African cyber security ecosystem, supporting partners as customer needs become increasingly complex and globally connected,” says Potgieter.
“Our approach is to build ‘boots on the ground’ first. We had a dedicated, Sophos-certified local team in place before we took our first order. These are experienced, country channel experts who understand the market. That team is supported by Climb's global organization and extensive Sophos expertise, as well as ongoing investment in marketing, sales support and partner enablement. This ensures we are not only supporting transactions but helping partners build and grow pipelines. “Expanding scale as the business grows is a key part of our long-term commitment to the markets we serve.”
He further said that Climb will soon launch its AI partner program Skyward Project, to help partners turn AI into real growth opportunities.
“We are actively engaging in the market through partner launch webinars and a founding partner program designed to get partners onboard early and start building the pipeline from day one,” says Potgieter.
Dale Foster, CEO of Climb, says: “South Africa represents a key strategic market in our EMEA growth journey. Our investment in local talent and infrastructure reflects our long-term commitment to the region and empowering partners with the tools, expertise and support they need to succeed. Entering the region with a partner of the caliber of Sophos reflects our clear intent: to provide the best technology to partners in South Africa and help them grow.”
John Mitchell, channels director, EMEA North at Sophos, says: “We are delighted to expand our relationship with Climb into South Africa.” He further added that Climb's strong channel focus and commitment to partner enablement make it an ideal distributor to help grow Sophos' presence and support partners in providing best-in-class cybersecurity solutions.
Peter Nel, regional head of SADC at Sophos, says: “This partnership with Climb strengthens how we serve South African organisations, increasing access to Sophos' AI-powered platform and deep threat intelligence. Together, we can provide integrated prevention, detection and response that can scale with customers – from mid-market to the largest environments – as threats continue to evolve.”