30 Notable IT Executive Moves: March 2025
Intel, Core BTS, Salesforce, Verizon, ServiceNow, Cisco and Cyderes were among the tech companies making key executive hires and moves in March 2025.
New CEOs with Intel and Core BTS, a new president and chief operating and financial officer at Salesforce and a new chief data, analytics and artificial intelligence officer at Verizon were among the biggest executive moves in March 2025.
Taking those top spots, respectively, were Lip-Bu Tan, formerly with Cadence Systems; Toshitaka Oiwa, formerly with AlixPartners; Robin Washington, formerly with Gilead Sciences; and Mano Mannoochahr, formerly with Travelers.
[RELATED: 30 Notable IT Executive Moves: February 2025]
March Tech Executive Moves
ServiceNow, Cisco and Cyderes 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:
- John Aisien, formerly of Microsoft
- Ana Villegas, formerly of AffiniPay
- Alex Cartagena, formerly of IOActive
The U.S. saw stronger job growth than expected in March, with nonfarm payrolls up 228,000 for the month, up from 117,000 in February and better than the Dow Jones estimate for 140,000, according to CNBC. Unemployment moved up to 4.2 percent from 4.1 percent.
Read on for more of the 30 notable IT executive moves in March 2025.
Mano Mannoochahr
Verizon brought on Mannoochahr as chief data, analytics and artificial intelligence officer in March.
Mannoochahr came to the Basking Ridge, N.J.-based telecommunications giant after about six years with Travelers, according to his LinkedIn account. He left the insurance company with the title of senior vice president and chief data and analytics officer.
His resume includes about two years with GE, leaving in 2019 as CIO of GE Transportation.
Verizon Business’ 2025 channel goals include improving partner profitability and increasing the amount of net-new accounts coming through partners, according to CRN’s Channel Chiefs.
Ana Villegas
In March, Villegas joined Cisco Systems, taking on the role of vice president of marketing.
The San Jose, Calif.-based networking giant brought on Villegas after she worked at AffiniPay for about a year. She left AffiniPay with the title of chief marketing officer and executive vice president, according to her LinkedIn account.
Her resume includes about three years with National Instruments. She left NI in 2022 with the title of CMO.
Cisco’s 2025 channel goals include improving partner profitability and enabling partners to develop an AI strategy, according to CRN’s Channel Chiefs.
Lip-Bu Tan
Lip-Bu Tan became CEO of Intel in March.
Tan joined the Santa Clara, Calif.-based chipmaker after previously serving as an Intel board member from 2022 to 2024, according to his LinkedIn account.
His resume includes CEO of chip design tool provider Cadence Systems from 2009 to 2021. He is also a founding managing partner of Walden Catalyst Ventures and chairman of venture firm Walden International.
Intel’s 2025 channel goals include increasing the overall percentage of company revenue that comes through the channel, enabling partners to develop an AI strategy and sell AI solutions and increasing partners' customer satisfaction ratings, according to CRN’s Channel Chiefs.
John Aisien
Aisien joined ServiceNow in March, taking on the role of senior vice president and running central outbound product management.
The Santa Clara, Calif.-based workflow products vendor brought on Aisien after he worked at Microsoft for about a year, according to his LinkedIn account. He left Microsoft with the title of vice president of unified security intelligence.
His resume includes about eight years as CEO of Blue Cedar.
ServiceNow has about 2,200 channel partners worldwide, according to CRN’s 2025 Channel Chiefs.
Alex Cartagena
Cyderes brought on Cartagena in March as its senior vice president of sales.
Cartagena joined the Kansas City, Mo.-based company—No. 93 on CRN’s 2024 Solution Provider 500—after about two years with IOActive, according to his LinkedIn account. He left IOActive with the title of senior vice president of global sales.
His resume includes about five years with NCC Group. He left NCC in 2023 with the title of vice president of sales for key accounts.
Bakshi Kohli
Kohli joined Forcepoint in March, taking on the role of CTO and head of global engineering.
In this role, he “drives the architectural vision of Forcepoint’s Data Security Everywhere platform and leads global engineering teams,” according to a company statement.
Kohli came to the Austin, Texas-based security vendor after about eight years with Zscaler, according to his LinkedIn account. He left Zscaler with the title of senior vice president of engineering and innovation.
His resume includes about nine years with Infoblox. He left the company in 2016 with the title of vice president of product engineering.
Forcepoint has about 2,000 channel partners worldwide, according to CRN’s 2025 Channel Chiefs.
Robin Washington
Washington became a president and chief operating and financial officer at Salesforce in March. She succeeded CFO Amy Weaver and COO Brian Millham.
Washington has served on the San Francisco-based AI and CRM platform provider’s board since 2013, according to her LinkedIn account.
Her resume includes about 12 years with Gilead Sciences, leaving as executive vice president and CFO in 2019, serving as an adviser until 2020. She served as CFO of Hyperion Solutions for about a year.
Toshitaka Oiwa
In March, Oiwa took on the role of CEO of Core BTS. He succeeds Kevin Thimjon.
Oiwa has been president of Nomura Research Institute Holdings America (NRI-HA), the parent organization of the Indianapolis-based company—a member of CRN’s 2025 MSP 500—since 2024, accordingto his LinkedIn account. NRI bought Core BTS in 2021.
He has been with NRI since 2017. He previously worked at AlixPartners for about four years, leaving in 2017 as senior vice president.
James Santa Maria
Santa Maria became vice president of global compensation at SAP in March.
The Germany-based enterprise applications vendor brought on Santa Maria after he worked at Amazon Web Services for about four years, according to his LinkedIn account. He left AWS with the title of compensation leader for sales, marketing and global services.
His resume includes about a year with Merck. He left the company in 2021 with the title of associate director of compensation planning and analytics.
SAP has about 25,000 channel partners worldwide, according to CRN’s 2025 Channel Chiefs.
Mike Blandina
Snowflake brought on Blandina as CIO in March.
Blandina joined the Bozeman, Mont.-based AI data cloud vendor after about five years with JPMorgan Chase, according to his LinkedIn account. He left JPMorgan as payments CIO.
His resume includes about one year with Bakkt. He left the company in 2020 with the title of CEO.
Snowflake’s 2025 channel goals include increasing the overall percentage of company revenue that comes through the channel and enabling partners to develop an AI strategy and sell AI solutions, according to CRN’s Channel Chiefs.
Steve Gustavson
In March, Microsoft hired Gustavson as corporate vice president of design and research.
He is focused on the Business and Industry Copilot group, which includes Dynamics 365, Power Platform and Copilot Studio, according to his LinkedIn account.
Microsoft has more than 500,000 partners worldwide. In 2025, it is working to increase the overall percentage of company revenue that comes through the channel and improve partner profitability, according to CRN's Channel Chiefs.
Robin Braun
Hewlett Packard Enterprise brought on Braun in March, hiring her as vice president of artificial intelligence business development and hybrid cloud.
The Spring, Texas-based enterprise technology vendor hired Braun after she worked at Government Acquisitions for about a year, according to her LinkedIn account. She left Government Acquisitions with the title of vice president of AI and data strategy.
Her resume includes a year with Certara. She left the company in 2024 with the title of head of AI technology sales.
HPE’s 2025 channel goals include increasing the amount of net-new accounts coming through partners, according to CRN’s Channel Chiefs.
Mark Murtagh
CrowdStrike in March hired Murtagh as global vice president of solution architecture.
Murtagh joined the Austin, Texas-based security vendor after about 10 years with Cisco, according to his LinkedIn account. He left Cisco with the title of senior director and head of worldwide security incubation, technical go-to-market and velocity engineering.
His resume includes about a year with Zimperium. He left the company in 2015 with the title of vice president of worldwide technical operations.
CrowdStrike’s 2025 channel goals include improving partner profitability, according to CRN’s Channel Chiefs.
Alex Johnson
In March, Google hired Johnson as its new vice president of data centers.
Johnson joined the Mountain View, Calif.-based cloud and artificial intelligence vendor after about 11 years with Facebook and its parent company Meta, according to his LinkedIn account. He left Meta with the title of vice president of data center design, engineering and construction.
Google’s 2025 channel goals include launching new certifications and partner levels and increasing partners' customer satisfaction ratings, according to CRN’s Channel Chiefs
Ajit Nambiar
Kaseya hired Nambiar in March as vice president of total rewards.
Nambiar came to the Miami-based solution provider tools provider after about 16 years with Google, according to his LinkedIn account. He left Google with the title of director of compensation and benefits.
His resume includes about nine years with Mercer. He left the company in 2008 as principal and business leader at the Singapore and Asia-Pacific regional office.
Kaseya has about 50,000 channel partners worldwide, according to CRN’s Channel Chiefs.
Kelly Waldher
Palo Alto Networks made Waldher its chief marketing officer and executive vice president in March.
Waldher joined the Santa Clara, Calif.-based security vendor after about two years with Zendesk, according to his LinkedIn account. He left Zendesk with the title of CMO and general manager.
His resume includes about three years with Google. He left the company in 2023 as vice president of marketing.
Palo Alto Networks’ 2025 channel goals include increasing the overall percentage of company revenue that comes through the channel and driving more partner-delivered services for platformization, according to CRN’s Channel Chiefs.
John Wong
In March, SentinelOne brought on Wong as its new vice president of business finance.
Wong came to the Mountain View, Calif.-based security vendor after about a year with Anetac, according to his LinkedIn account. Wong left Anetac as CFO.
His resume includes about two years with OneTrust. He left the company in 2024 as vice president of customer operations.
SentinelOne has about 5,000 channel partners worldwide, according to CRN’s 2025 Channel Chiefs.
Danielle Brady
In March, Brady became COO of Avanade.
Brady joined the Seattle-based company—No. 37 on CRN’s 2024 Solution Provider 500—after about 26 years with Accenture, according to her LinkedIn account. She left Accenture with the title of managing director of global business operations for enterprise platforms.
She came to Accenture in 2011.
Chris Boone
Boone took on the role of vice president of small business and multi-dwelling unit in March at Consolidated Communications.
Boone came to the Mattoon, Ill.-based company—No. 50 on CRN’s 2024 Solution Provider 500—after about 15 years with Cable One, according to his LinkedIn account. He left Cable One with the title of senior vice president of business services and emerging markets.
His resume includes more than three years with Cox, leaving in 2010 as retail sales supervisor.
Scott Coner
In March, NWN brought on Coner as its vice president of presales.
Coner joined the Boston-based company—a member of CRN’s 2025 MSP 500—after about more than 20 years with NTT Data and Dimension Data, according to his LinkedIn account. NTT bought Dimension Data in 2010.
He left NTT with the title of vice president of solutions presales and joined Dimension Data in 2004 as a converged communications solution architect.
TR Newcomb
In March, DXC Technology hired Newcomb as its CRO.
In this newly created role, he “will provide a singular point of accountability for sales effectiveness to oversee DXC’s global, unified sales force” and “better position DXC to deploy specialist resources globally, bring unique client insights to its offering teams, and influence the introduction of new offerings to DXC’s markets with speed, expanding the company’s footprint with existing accounts and new logos,” according to a company statement.
Newcomb came to the Ashburn, Va.-based company—No. 11 on CRN’s 2024 Solution Provider 500—after about five years with Riskified. He left Riskified with the title of senior vice president of strategy and corporate development, according to his LinkedIn account.
His resume includes about two years with TRAZ Ventures, leaving the firm in 2020 as a principal.
Bill Bickham
Bickham became vice president of customer success at Advizex in March.
Bickham joined the Independence, Ohio-based company—a member of CRN’s 2025 MSP 50—after previously working at Bob Evans Farms for about a year, according to his LinkedIn account. He left the food company as a business relationship manager.
His resume includes about two years with T-Cetra. He left the technology company in 2023 with the title of ERP project manager.
Jennifer Troy
In March, Capgemini hired Troy as vice president of business services.
Troy joined the France-based company—No. 4 on CRN’s 2024 Solution Provider 500—after about a year as CEO of Troy Consulting, which she founded, according to her LinkedIn account.
Her resume includes about 20 years with IBM. Her roles with IBM have included business process outsourcing finance and accounting delivery leader for the Americas and BPO leader and partner for the communications sector in North America. She left IBM in 2023.
Daryle Lademan
Leidos brought on Lademan in March as its senior vice president of corporate strategy.
In this role, she will “lead company-level growth strategies, strategic partnerships and investments, strategy execution and special projects,” according to a company statement.
Lademan joined the Reston, Va.-based company—No. 10 on CRN’s 2024 Solution Provider 500—after about 15 years with BAE Systems, according to her LinkedIn account. She left BAE with the title of vice president of strategy and planning.
Erin Modrow
Modrow joined CACI International in March, taking on the role of vice president of digital talent strategy and analytics.
Modrow came to the Reston, Va.-based company—No. 19 on CRN’s 2024 Solution Provider 500—after about four years with BNY Mellon, according to her LinkedIn account. She left BNY with the title of global head of workforce planning and employee on-boarding and off-boarding experience.
Her resume includes about seven years with Lockheed Martin. She left in 2021 as senior manager of workforce strategy and planning.
Patrick Zelten
Blue Mantis hired Zelten in March, giving him the role of vice president of professional services.
The Portsmouth, N.H.-based company—a member of CRN’s 2025 MSP 500—brought on Zelten after he worked at BlueHour Technology for about a year. He left BlueHour with the title of senior vice president of professional services and client success, according to his LinkedIn account.
His resume includes about two years with SilkRoad Technology, now called Rival. He left in 2023 as senior vice president of professional services and client support.
Tony Encinias
In March, Peraton hired Encinias as its new CTO of government services.
Encinias joined the Reston, Va.-based company—No. 23 on CRN’s 2024 Solution Provider 500—after about four years with Atos, according to his LinkedIn account. He left Atos with the title of CTO of North America for public sector and defense.
His resume includes about five years with Dell Technologies. He left Dell in 2021 with the title of chief strategy and innovation officer for state and local government.
Patrick Ruhe
Ruhe returned to General Dynamics IT in March, taking on the role of vice president of cloud solutions.
Ruhe came back to the Falls Church, Va.-based company—No. 14 on CRN’s 2024 Solution Provider 500—after about three years with Capgemini, accordingto his LinkedIn account. He left Capgemini as a principal.
He previously worked at GDIT for about a year, leaving in 2022 as cloud solutions director and defense cloud capability lead.
Brian Barnes
In March, C Spire hired Barnes as vice president of strategic partnerships and corporate development.
Barnes came to the Ridgeland, Miss.-based company—No. 124 on CRN’s 2024 Solution Provider 500—after about eight years with King & Spalding. He left King & Spalding with the title of partner, according to his LinkedIn account.
His resume includes about a year as a judicial law clerk for Judge Leslie Southwick of the U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit.
Leanne Hurley
Kyndryl hired Hurley in March as vice president and practice leader for the SAP Americas practice.
The New York-based company—No. 9 on CRN’s 2024 Solution Provider 500—brought on Hurley after she worked at UiPath for about two years, according to her LinkedIn account. She left UiPath with the title of regional vice president.
Her resume includes about two years with Deloitte, leaving in 2023 with the title of senior manager and senior sales executive.
