MapR Hires Channel Chief, CMO for Big Data Partner Push

MapR, which specializes in big data software, has hired several executives as part of a major business expansion plan. Among the new names to know: Channel Chief Geneva Lake and Chief Marketing Officer David Cross. Former CMO Jack Norris shifts to senior VP of data and applications.

Oracle veteran Geneva Lake officially is VP of worldwide business development, and she will focus on building "world-class channels and alliances network across the globe." CMO David Cross is a veteran of Coca-Cola, P&A and Ventiv Technology. Former CMO Jack Norris will work with the analyst community while also focusing the company's PR efforts.

The expansion comes only a few months after Oracle veteran Matt Mills joined as president and COO. Mills and CEO John Schroeder have been working overtime to articulate MapR's strengths in the big data market -- celebrating Hadoop's success while also positioning the company as more than a Hadoop vendor.

MapR Streaming vs Rivals

Amid that balancing act, MapR has also distanced itself from a perceived roller coaster ride at rival Hortonworks, which is growing quickly and building its partner program -- but recently upset Wall Street with a new debt offering.

MapR has also focused heavily on so-called Streams technology -- which allows customers to gather, manage and analyze data (from multiple sources) in real-time. At the same time, the company has been accelerating the MapR partner program.

MapR announced Streams in Q4 2015, with plans to roll it out to partners and customers sometime in early 2016.

Many pundits believe MapR is pursuing an IPO -- potentially timed for late 2016 or 2017.