30 Notable IT Executive Moves: February 2025
Virtusa, Google, Armis, Microsoft, Nvidia, HPE and Veeam were among the tech companies making key executive hires and moves in February 2025.
A new Virtusa CEO and new presidents at Google, Armis and Microsoft were among the biggest executive moves in February 2025.
Taking those top spots, respectively, were Nitesh Banga, formerly with Hitachi; Hayete Gallot, formerly with Microsoft; Alex Mosher, formerly with MobileIron; and Ralph Haupter, who was with the company for about 20 years.
[RELATED: 30 Notable IT Executive Moves: January 2025]
February Tech Executive Moves
Nvidia, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Veeam were among other tech giants to make significant executive moves during the month as companies invested in talent for overseeing sales, technology and partners.
Those executives were:
- Joshua Patterson, formerly of Voltron Data
- Menaka Sundar, formerly of Amazon Web Services
- Ariana Torres, formerly of Avalara
Employers in the U.S. hired 151,000 employees in February, less than the 170,000 added jobs expected, according to ABC News. Unemployment rose to 4.1 percent, remaining at historical lows.
Read on for more of the 30 notable IT executive moves in February 2025.
Karl Soderlund
In February, Cato Networks brought Karl Soderlund on as global channel chief.
The Israel-based security vendor hired Soderlund after he spent about two years with Zscaler, according to his LinkedIn account. He left Zscaler with the title of senior vice president of worldwide partner and alliances sales.
His resume includes about six years with Palo Alto Networks, leaving in 2023 as SVP of worldwide channel sales.
Cato is working to improve partner technical skills and improve partner sales skills, according to CRN’s 2025 Channel Chiefs.
Ariana Torres
Ariana Torres became vice president of global total rewards of Veeam Software.
Torres came to the Seattle-based data resilience tools vendor after about three years with Avalara, according to her LinkedIn account. She left Avalara with the title of VP and head of global total rewards.
Her resume includes about two years with Rubrik as VP and head of total rewards.
Veeam’s goals include working to increase the amount of recurring revenue going through partners and encourage partners to sell a broader part of the portfolio, according to CRN’s 2025 Channel Chiefs.
Ralph Haupter
Ralph Haupter started his new role as president of Microsoft’s small, medium enterprises and channel (SME&C) organization in February.
Haupter previously served as the Redmond, Wash.-based tech giant’s president for the Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, according to his LinkedIn account. He has been with Microsoft for about 20 years.
Other titles he’s held with Microsoft include four years as CEO and chairman of Microsoft Greater China and about three years as CEO of Microsoft Germany.
Microsoft is working to increase the amount of professional services going through partners, encourage partners to sell a broader part of the portfolio and increase AI and security activation, according to CRN’s 2025 Channel Chiefs.
Menaka Sundar
Hewlett Packard Enterprise hired Menaka Sundar in February, tasking her with the role of vice president of enterprise architecture.
The Houston-based business technology products vendor brought on Sundar after she worked at Amazon Web Services for about six years according to her LinkedIn account. She left AWS with the title of global head for enterprise transformation, IT modernization and sustainability initiatives for customers.
Her resume includes about 11 years on and off with Oracle, most recently leaving the vendor in 2019 with the title of director of solution engineering cross-industry for Oracle public cloud.
HPE’s goals include working to increase the amount of net new accounts coming through partners and encourage partners to sell a broader part of the portfolio, according to CRN’s 2025 Channel Chiefs.
Jason Yang
Oracle hired Jason Yang in February as vice president of health data intelligence.
Yang joined the Austin, Texas-based database products and services giant after about one year with Atlassian as head of engineering, according to his LinkedIn account.
His resume includes about seven years with Amazon, leaving in 2023 as senior software development manager of Amazon Web Services (AWS) AI. He also worked at Microsoft for about 13 years, leaving in 2016 as group engineering manager of Visual Studio.
Oracle NetSuite is part of CRN’s 2024 Partner Program Guide
Nitesh Banga
Virtusa named Nitesh Banga its new president and CEO, succeeding Santosh Thomas.
Banga came to the Southborough, Mass.-based company–No. 20 on CRN’s 2024 Solution Provider 500–after about eight years with Hitachi and GlobalLogic. He left Hitachi with the title of CEO of the digital engineering business unit, according to his LinkedIn account. Hitachi bought GlobalLogic in 2021.
His resume includes about 10 years with Infosys, leaving in 2018 with the title of senior vice president of products and platforms.
Hayete Gallot
Hayete Gallot became president of customer experience for Google Cloud in February.
Gallot joined the Mountain View, Calif.-based cloud giant after about 16 years with Microsoft, according to her LinkedIn account. She left Microsoft with the title of corporate vice president of commercial solution areas.
Her resume includes about 11 years with Nortel, leaving the company in 2009 as director of marketing for multimedia applications.
Google is working to enable partners to develop an AI strategy and sell AI solutions, improve partner technical skills and increase the amount of professional services going through partners, according to CRN’s 2025 Channel Chiefs.
Alex Mosher
Armis promoted Alex Mosher to the role of president in February.
In this role, he “will lead Armis’ unified go-to-market functions and continue to drive change at speed as the company scales to support its rapid growth,” according to a company statement.
Mosher previously served as chief revenue officer of the San Francisco-based cyber exposure management vendor, according to his LinkedIn account. He’s been with Armis for about four years.
His resume includes about three years with MobileIron. He left the company with the title of vice president of global sales and marketing. Ivanti acquired MobileIron in 2020.
Armis has about 700 channel partners worldwide, accordingto CRN’s 2025 Channel Chiefs.
Joshua Patterson
Joshua Patterson returned to Nvidia in February, taking on the role of vice president of data processing, solutions architecture and engineering.
Patterson previously worked at the Santa Clara, Calif.-based chipmaker for about four years as senior director of its Rapids end-to-end platform for accelerating data science with Nvidia graphics processing units (GPUs), according to his LinkedIn account.
Before his return to Nvidia, Patterson co-founded Voltron Data and led it as CEO until 2024. He served as a board adviser for six months before returning to Nvidia.
Nvidia’s 2025 goals include working to enable partners to develop an AI strategy and sell AI solutions, improve partner technical skills and encourage partners to sell a broader part of the portfolio, according to CRN’s 2025 Channel Chiefs.
Peter Alexander
Barracuda landed a new chief marketing officer with the hiring of Peter Alexander.
Alexander came to the Campbell, Calif.-based security vendor after about two years as CMO of Fastly, according to his LinkedIn account.
His resume includes serving as CMO of Check Point Software Technologies for about six years, leaving the vendor in 2023.
Barracuda’s top channel goals include working to improve partner technical skills, increase the amount of net new accounts coming through partners and encourage partners to sell a broader part of the portfolio, according to CRN’s 2025 Channel Chiefs.
David Cross
Atlassian made David Cross its chief information security officer in February.
Cross joined the Australia-based collaboration applications vendor after about six years with Oracle, according to his LinkedIn account. He left with the title of CISO and senior vice president.
His resume includes about two years with Google, leaving in 2018 as engineering director of the public cloud security platform. He also worked at Microsoft for more than 15 years, leaving in 2016 as general manager of cloud and enterprise security.
Atlassian is part of CRN’s 2024 Partner Program Guide.
Scott Leatherman
Aviatrix promoted Scott Leatherman to the role of chief marketing officer in February.
Leatherman joined the Santa Clara, Calif.-based cloud networking vendor about a year ago as chief of staff to CEO Doug Merritt, accordingto his LinkedIn account. He previously worked at Viral Nation for about a year as CMO.
His resume includes about two years with Veritone as CMO, leaving in 2023. He also held the CMO title at Virtana for about a year, leaving in 2021.
Aviatrix is working to add more qualified partners, increase the overall percentage of company revenue that comes through the channel and increase the amount of recurring revenue going through partners, according to CRN’s 2025 Channel Chiefs.
Phil Tee
Phil Tee joined Zscaler in February, taking on the role of executive vice president and head of artificial intelligence innovation.
Tee came to the San Jose, Calif.-based security vendor after selling Moogsoft to Dell Technologies in 2023. He co-founded Moogsoft in 2012 and led it as CEO.
His resume includes co-founding Promethyan Labs, Njini, RiverSoft and Micromuse.
Zscaler has about 3,000 channel partners worldwide, according to CRN’s 2025 Channel Chiefs.
Roi Karo
Check Point Software brought on Roi Karo in February as chief strategy officer.
The Israel-based security vendor hired Karo after he worked at Fireblocks for about three years as chief risk and strategy officer, according to his LinkedIn account.
His resume includes more than 25 years in the Israeli Defense Forces, holding various senior leadership and managerial positions in strategy, intelligence and cyber.
Check Point’s top channel goals include working to increase the overall percentage of company revenue that comes through the channel, enable partners to develop an AI strategy and sell AI solutions and increase the amount of professional services going through partners, according to CRN’s 2025 Channel Chiefs.
John Bertero
In February, Quest Software brought on a new senior vice president of sales–John Bertero.
Bertero came to the Aliso Viejo, Calif.-based IT management software provider after about two years with Liqid, according to his LinkedIn account. He left Liqid as chief revenue officer.
His resume includes about three years with Nutanix. He left the company in 2022 as chief operating officer of the Americas.
Quest has about 1,000 channel partners worldwide, according to 2025 Channel Chiefs.
Laura Lowe
SAP brought on a new senior vice president of people and culture and global head of business partnering for go-to-market (GTM) with the hiring of Laura Lowe.
Lowe joined the Germany-based enterprise applications vendor after about six years with Avanade, according to her LinkedIn account. She left the solution provider with the title of chief people officer.
Her resume includes about 20 years with IBM. She left the vendor in 2018 with the title of global executive human resources (HR) director for digital strategy and the iX experience design consultancy in IBM Global Business Services (GBS).
SAP has 25,000 channel partners worldwide, according to CRN’s 2025 Channel Chiefs.
Christopher Bennett
TTEC Digital hired Christopher Bennett as vice president of Microsoft Azure sales in February.
Bennett joined the Austin, Texas-based company–No. 89 on CRN’s 2024 Solution Provider 500–after about a year with Hitachi Solutions America, according to his LinkedIn account. He left Hitachi as senior director of Azure business development for the Americas.
His resume includes about five years with 3Cloud and Applied Cloud Systems. He left 3Cloud in 2024 as principal technical strategist for strategic accounts. 3Cloud bought ACS in 2020.
Dana Pittman
Peraton brought on a new senior vice president of talent acquisition in February–Dana Pittman.
Pittman joined the Reston, Va.-based company–No. 23 on CRN’s 2024 Solution Provider 500–after about two years with Vistant, according to her LinkedIn account. She left Vistant as chief people officer.
Her resume includes about a year with Leidos, where she held a role in workforce management and development.
Kay Meyer
Kay Meyer joined Slalom in February, taking on the role of vice president of global talent acquisition.
Meyer came to the Seattle-based company–No. 27 on CRN’s 2024 Solution Provider 500–after about 22 years with Deloitte, according to her LinkedIn account. She left Deloitte with the title of managing director of talent acquisition for Deloitte Consulting’s U.S. member firm.
She started with Deloitte in 2002 as a recruiter for the West region technology integration service area.
Rajib Das
Rajib Das became senior vice president and head of the health care business unit at HTC Global Services in February.
Das joined the Troy, Mich.-based company–No. 32 on CRN’s 2024 Solution Provider 500–after about 12 years with Wipro, according to his LinkedIn account. He left Wipro with the title of health care general manager.
His resume includes about two years with Mitel, leaving in 2018 as senior vice president of global services.
Linette Boudreaux
In February, EOS IT Solutions brought on Linette Boudreaux as vice president of sales for the West.
Boudreaux came to the Ireland-based company–a member of CRN’s 2025 MSP 500–after about 20 years with SHI, according to her LinkedIn account. She left SHI with the title of senior director of global sales.
Previous roles she held at SHI include senior director enterprise business development and enablement and account executive.
Christopher Farah
Christopher Farah returned to Calian IT & Cyber Solutions in February, taking on the role of vice president of sales strategy and operations.
Farah previously worked at the Ottawa, Ontario-based company–a member of CRN’s 2025 MSP 500–for about five years, accordingto his LinkedIn account. He left Calian in 2023 with the title of senior director of public sector and sales operations.
Before returning to Calian, he worked at Resound Networks for about two years. He left the company as chief revenue officer.
Jodie Stewart
In February, Jodie Stewart became vice president of sales training and development at Thrive.
Stewart joined the Foxborough, Mass.-based company–a member of CRN’s 2025 MSP 500–after about three years with Polen Capital, according to her LinkedIn account. She left Polen as head of learning and development.
Her resume includes about two years with Arch Insurance Group, leaving in 2021 as senior manager of learning and development.
David Collette
In February, Cyderes brought on a new vice president of managed platforms–David Collette.
Colette came to the Kansas City, Mo.-based company–No. 93 on CRN’s 2024 Solution Provider 500–after about two years with PwC, according to his LinkedIn account. He left PwC as director of cyber managed services.
His resume includes about 14 years with Secureworks, leaving in 2023 as senior director of managed security services (MSS) Counter Threat Platform (CTP) operations.
Todd Lambert
Todd Lambert became vice president of strategic clients at Future Tech in February.
Lambert joined the Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based company–No. 76 on CRN’s 2024 Solution Provider 500–after about 12 years with Dell Technologies, according to his LinkedIn account. He left Dell with the title of senior account executive for aerospace and defense.
His resume includes about 10 years with Best Buy, leaving in 2013.
Meg Smith
Ahead hired Meg Smith in February, tasking her with the role of vice president of strategic partnerships for security.
Smith joined the Chicago-based company–a member of CRN’s 2025 MSP 500–after about three years with Arrow Electronics, according to her LinkedIn account. She left Arrow with the title of executive director of enterprise computing solutions.
Her resume includes about a year with Coalfire. She left the company in 2022 with the title of director of client engagement consultant.
Jake Groth
In February, General Dynamics IT hired Jake Groth as vice president of technology.
Groth came to the Falls Church, Va.-based company–No. 14 on CRN’s 2024 Solution Provider 500–after about four years with UltraViolet Cyber and Stage 2 Security, according to his LinkedIn account. In 2023, Stage 2 combined with three other companies to four UltraViolet. He left UltraViolet as chief technology officer.
His resume includes about nine years with Accenture and Defense Point Security, leaving Accenture with the title of cyber CTO. Accenture acquired DPS in 2016.
Tim Booher
Tim Booher joined Leidos in February, taking on the role of senior vice president of special projects with a focus “on the understanding and building the future of government and tech.”
Booher came to the Reston, Va.-based company–No. 10 on CRN’s 2024 Solution Provider 500–after about two years with Boeing, according to his LinkedIn account. He left Boeing with the title of vice president of autonomy.
His resume includes about two years with Lockheed Martin, leaving in 2023 as vice president of engineering.
Larry Frazier
Colossal hired Larry Frazier in February as its senior vice president of growth and strategy.
Frazier joined the Annapolis, Md.-based IT services provider after about three years with Iron Bow Technologies, according to his LinkedIn account. He left Iron Bow with the title of chief strategy officer.
His resume includes about three years with Cisco. He left the vendor in 2021 with the title of senior director and chief of staff for Cisco’s workforce experience (WFX) and office of the chief digital officer.
Benjamin Niernberg
In February, Coretelligent hired Benjamin Niernberg as chief growth officer.
Niernberg came to the Needham, Mass.-based company–a member of CRN’s 2025 MSP 500–after about two years as chief sales officer of Lionbridge.
His resume includes about five years with MNJ Technologies, leaving the solution provider in 2022 with the title of chief operating officer.
