From Day One to Now: Grateful for Every Moment Shared with Trenders

It is now time for me to bid farewell to the wonderful team and all the Trenders I’ve had the privilege of working with. The past 8 years and 11 managers have been a remarkable journey, and I am immensely grateful for my time at 趋势科技 .

In November 2016, I embarked on a new and exciting chapter in my professional career, joining the Trend Micro family as Technical Director for the Nordics and Baltics. Since that day, I have grown both personally and professionally, surrounded by colleagues who have felt more like family than coworkers.

it is all about the people

This post is a reflection of my experiences, the invaluable lessons I’ve learned, and the memories I’ve made along the way. It is also my opportunity to express heartfelt gratitude to everyone I’ve had the pleasure of working with and meeting during my time as a Trender. While I would love to mention each and every one of you by name, please know that every interaction, conversation, and moment we’ve shared has left a lasting impression on me!

Over the course of my 8 years at Trend Micro, I’ve had the opportunity to take on two distinct and incredibly rewarding roles, each bringing its own set of challenges and joys. As I look back, I am filled with a deep sense of appreciation for the trust, support, and camaraderie that have made these years so fulfilling.

Though I cannot name you all individually, please understand that you have all played a vital part in shaping my journey here. You’ve not only contributed to my professional growth but also enriched my life in countless ways.

As I move forward into new opportunities, I carry with me the invaluable experiences and cherished friendships forged during my time as a Trender. Thank you, Trend Micro, and thank you to each one of you who has been part of this incredible journey.

This is reflection on the first role

The Warm Welcome to the Trend Micro Family

From my very first day, I felt an incredible sense of warmth and belonging. I was quickly immersed into the Swedish team for my onboarding, and I’d like to take a moment to especially thank Lena Clefberg , Lena, you have been pivotal in making me feel so welcomed, supporting me, and challenging me along the way. You’ve been there throughout my 8-year journey, and for that, I am truly grateful.

I would also like to send a special thank you to Rasmus Pedersen for believing in me as the technical leader and allowing me to build my team.

The Nordic Tech Team!

The Ambassadors, The Trusted Advisors – One Team

To the Technical Team, the Rock Stars, the Scandinavian heroes (you know exactly who you are) – you have been the cornerstone of our success in the Nordics and Baltics. Your unwavering commitment, your “yes, we can do this” attitude, and your professionalism in working with customers and partners have been instrumental in achieving the magnitude of success we’ve seen over the years. Even during the challenges of COVID, each of you stepped up, reaching out to ensure our customers and partners were never forgotten. You strengthened the team when it mattered most, and for that, I am incredibly proud and thankful. And thank you for the music - the farewell video you made.

The Nordic Management Team

From the very beginning, the Nordic Management Team welcomed me with open arms. I had the privilege of learning from incredible leaders like Erik J?nsson , Ola Wittenby , Thomas Ludvik N?ss and Kimmo Vesajoki . Every management meeting provided an opportunity not only to work together but also to learn, reflect, and engage in our memorable “Walk and Talk” sessions.

Thank you, team, for setting such a high standard for cross-border collaboration between sales and the technical teams. Together, we truly united the region into one cohesive team.

The “TCE” (Technical Council)

The Technical Council, or “TCE,” has been a cornerstone for me and for Trend Micro, helping build alignment across regions. This initiative was led by none other than Mr. TCE himself, Joachim Weber . Joachim, your leadership style and the trust you placed in your team have been a true role model for me throughout my time as a Trender.

I’d also like to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone I had the privilege of working with — Pierre SIAUT , Renaud BIDOU , Armin Rothe , Bharat Mistry , Ross D. , Sean O'Keeffe , Albert Kramer Anne Hannigan , Ulrike Bubl , Jay Armstrong , William Dalton , Fergal Dalton , Erick Thek . The sparring sessions, discussions, and learnings we’ve shared have been invaluable. (I have over 900 photos from our meetings, events, and activities!)

The Support Team

The entire team dedicated to supporting our customers deserves the utmost respect. You are the unsung heroes, always stepping up to help, no matter the challenge—even when it wasn’t within your power or responsibility. Respect to each and every one of you. Ray McArdle , David Byrne , Amine Belaouedj , Ciaran Martin , Brendan Roche John Ahern Joerg Peetz Michael Eberl Kim Nowak

The Inspirational Team

Supporting the Sales, Presales, and Postsales teams has been a crucial part of driving success and delivering value to our customers. Along this journey, it has been vital to have people who inspire, challenge, and aren’t afraid to tell you when you’re wrong or encourage you to strive for better. Beyond the names I’ve already mentioned, I would like to give special credit to the following individuals for being themselves and for playing an important role in my time as the Nordic Tech Director: Rik Ferguson Ross Baker Scott Sargeant Ian Heritage Dave Maxwell James Walker Ria Meulmeester Norma O'Callaghan José de la Cruz González Simon Young Albin Peni? Brian Gorenc Michael Unterschweiger Daniel Schmutz Bryan Webster Brian Morovitz Marc Lanzendorfer Finola Roycroft Joe Lee Rachel Jin

This is reflection on the second role - Global Product Marketing Manager

The Global Product Marketing Team

I had the unique opportunity to start with a blank slate and design a brand-new managed service called Service One. It was an entirely new area for me, and I would have been lost without the incredible coaching and guidance from my manager, Wendy Moore . Wendy, I want to extend a special thank you for your patience, education, and mentorship—it certainly wasn’t one of the easiest onboarding experiences, I’m sure. But looking at what we’ve achieved, I am truly proud of the results we’ve delivered. Thank you.

Over the years, the team grew bigger and better, with more brilliant minds joining us. We became a truly global team, and I’d like to express my deepest gratitude to all the team members and everyone involved in making Service One what it is today.

My partner in crime, making Service One: PM Quoc Ta

The great global and core managed services team: Jenny Chen, Yu Chen Liu Mike G. Rense Buijen Lucas van den Berg Leigh-Ann Devereux Jay Yaneza

People who have been instrumental in the success of managed services: Kevin Simzer Frank Kuo Carole Ann McCuaig Caroline Arbuckle John Darlington John Haden Rapha?l Dumortier Lukas Epping Mark Lund Marc Schiener Jared Rossouw Henrik Kirkeskov Nielsen Jonas Grandal Kalle S. David Chow David Burke Jim Over Scott Sargeant Leo Caisse Kim Peters Cara West Russell Meyers Eric Skinner Debbie Ng Bharat Mistry

All of you

There are so many more key people that I would like to say thank you to.... but I have to draw the line here... I hope to see you out there somewhere sometime.