WGRD Watchguard Technologies

WatchGuard Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:WGRD), a leading provider of Unified Threat Management (UTM) solutions, today named David Ridout vice president of its worldwide sales organization. Ridout will bring a wealth of experience selling and marketing high-tech solutions to the small and mid-sized business (SMB) to his new role. Prior to this appointment, Ridout was WatchGuard's vice president of channel marketing. Before joining WatchGuard, Ridout was vice president of business development and marketing at Primus Knowledge Solutions, a Seattle software maker that was acquired by ATG (Art Technology Group). His experience also includes both sales and marketing positions at high-tech companies such as Novell, Canon and Crystal Decisions. "With the experience David gained leading our channel marketing efforts and his high-tech SMB sales and marketing background, David is in a position to immediately contribute to our worldwide sales efforts," said Ed Borey, CEO of WatchGuard. "We believe his thorough understanding of our market and SMB channel focus will help us drive revenue growth at or above market rates." Ridout replaces WatchGuard's former Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales, Dale Bastian, who will be leaving the Company to pursue other interests. About WatchGuard WatchGuard provides network security. The company's Firebox X family of upgradeable appliances delivers the performance, functionality and security strength to meet the needs of organizations of any size. WatchGuard's Intelligent Layered Security protects against emerging threats and provides the platform to integrate additional services offered by the company. All WatchGuard products include a LiveSecurity Service subscription for vulnerability alerts, software updates, expert security instruction, as well as individualized and self-help customer care. WatchGuard is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, with offices throughout Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit www.watchguard.com. Certain statements in this press release, including statements about our ability to achieve revenue growth at or above market rates and other statements about our plans, objectives, intentions, and expectations are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the time the statements are made and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and inaccurate assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected or implied by the forward-looking statements. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements for many reasons, including the risk that we will be unable to achieve or sustain revenue growth at or above market rates or at all and the other risks described under "Risk Factors" in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, and in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings from time to time. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. WatchGuard, LiveSecurity and Firebox are either registered trademarks or trademarks of WatchGuard Technologies, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.