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Marc Surplus

Vice President, Partner Strategy & Programs

Global Partner Sales

As Vice President of Partner Strategy & Programs for Cisco’s Global Partner Sales organization, Marc Surplus is responsible for developing and executing channel strategies and partner programs across all routes to market worldwide in Cisco’s connected partner ecosystem. Surplus and his team are responsible for managing and evolving the innovative, award-winning Cisco Partner Program and extensive portfolio of incentives that underpin Cisco’s value-based channel model. As a result, Cisco partners have access to unparalleled resources to build new capabilities, accelerate growth and increase profitability in their Cisco practices.

Previously, Surplus led multiple strategy and planning organizations within Cisco, spanning segment, regional and global arenas. His responsibilities included developing new go-to-market strategies, launching new business models, accelerating sales growth and improving productivity across Cisco’s 18,000 employee field organization.

Before joining Cisco, Surplus was CEO of ForwardVue Technologies, a financial risk management software company. He also served as Vice President & General Manager for Trilogy Software, one of the largest privately held enterprise software companies. Earlier in his career, Surplus was an Associate Principal at McKinsey & Company.

Surplus received a Master’s in Business Administration from the Wharton Business School. In addition, he holds a Master of Arts in International Studies from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Miami University of Ohio

Articles

November 29, 2021

PARTNER

Now Live! New Partner Roles Mean More Customer Value

2 min read

Since we launched our Cisco Partner Program last year, the integrator and provider roles went live with great momentum. Now, I’m happy to share with you that the developer and advisor roles are open for business.

November 9, 2021

PARTNER

Expanding Your Possibilities with Cisco Partner Programs

4 min read

The theme of this year’s Partner Summit conference is “Everything Possible,” and it ties perfectly to what’s happening with our partner programs, where we are expanding your possibilities on many levels.

June 30, 2021

PARTNER

Four Roles on a Roll – The Cisco Partner Program

4 min read

Cisco has the best partners in the industry, and our new program validates their expertise and excellence in a way that customers can easily recognize. As we up-level our value exchange in the new program, here are the highlights.

June 16, 2021

PARTNER

Cisco’s New Route to Market: Agency

3 min read

Starting today, we are working with Intelisys, a leading master agent, and their 1,700+ channel sales professionals. Intelisys agents are now authorized to offer Webex Meetings, Webex Calling and a select group of Webex Devices to their customers who are interested in cloud collaboration products and services for an inclusive hybrid workplace.

May 27, 2021

PARTNER

Helping Partners Through Magnified IT Market Change

3 min read

As companies seek guidance and help to navigate their IT journey post-COVID, the role of partners has become more vital. Guest blogger Steve White, Program Vice President at IDC, discusses how the Cisco Partner Program can help companies adapt and evolve by using iDC's five-stage model for enterprise recovery.

April 12, 2021

PARTNER

Come for the Program Updates. Stay for the IDC Research.

1 min read

We are starting a new broadcast series to keep you informed about the Cisco Partner program. It's called “Future Ready – Programs and Profitability," and the first episode is Wednesday, April 14.

March 29, 2021

PARTNER

CRN 5-Star Awards: A Lot Can Happen in 10 Years

2 min read

Because of the mutual success between partners and customers, we are proud to announce that Cisco has won CRN’s Five-Star Award for 10 years in a row!

March 8, 2021

PARTNER

More with Less

1 min read

We just launched a new, intuitive deal registration platform that provides speed without compromise. It saves time during registration and approvals by using a guided experience.

October 28, 2020

PARTNER

Unboxing The New Cisco Partner Program

3 min read

Marc Surplus unboxes the new Cisco Partner Program and shows you how we're bringing out siloed programs together into a single, cohesive framework structured around the roles you play with your customers, as opposed to how you transact with Cisco.

May 27, 2020

PARTNER

Transformation Starts with Competencies

2 min read

Today, we are launching the DevNet Specialization designed for partners with a robust software development practice. It validates and highlights their ability to automate solutions and develop applications on top of Cisco platforms.

March 30, 2020

PARTNER

Cisco Wins Three 5-Star Awards for Partner Programs

2 min read

I hope you’re ready for some good news. CRN published their annual Partner Program guide this week. Thanks to you, this is the ninth straight year we have won one of their prestigious Five Star awards. I’m proud to say, for the first time ever, we won three awards.

January 27, 2020

PARTNER

Three Reasons to Grow Your Small and Mid-Size Customers with Cisco

2 min read

In November 2019, we announced Cisco’s Perform Plus rebate program for partners, and I’m happy to say the program is now live globally.

November 20, 2019

PARTNER

Think Small to Grow

1 min read

Read a quick update on Perform Plus, a new program to invest in partners who have a dedicated practice that serves small and mid-size customers.

November 5, 2019

PARTNER

Have You Found Your Edge?

3 min read

Cisco helps you “Own Your Edge” by unveiling two new catalyst Lifecycle Starter programs and a new Lifecycle Incentives program at its annual Partner Summit conference.

October 18, 2019

PARTNER

If You Hate Spoilers, Don’t Read This Blog

3 min read

Marc Surplus takes a look back at promises from Partner Summit 2018 and how we've done as we're heading back into this year's partner event.

November 14, 2018

PARTNER

Grow Today and Transform for Tomorrow with Cisco Partner Programs

3 min read

I'm excited to announce new changes that are fundamentally evolving our programs to align with Cisco’s strategic tranisiton to software and a focus across the lifecycle of your business.

May 23, 2017

PARTNER

Introducing Global Gold – A New Partner Certification Tier

3 min read

Global Gold is for highly-specialized partners who can provide a Gold level experience to their customers globally. That’s a tall order, but our partners decide how they meet the requirements.