OpenText Appoints Kaseya’s Mike DePalma As New VP Of Business Development: Exclusive

‘This is an exciting time for OpenText, and I’m thrilled to join a company that values its partners as much as I do,’ says Mike DePalma, new vice president of business development. ‘We have a great stack of technology, and I look forward to helping OpenText connect with MSPs in meaningful ways that make their businesses stronger and more secure.’

OpenText has appointed Mike DePalma as its new vice president of business development, tasking him with strengthening the company’s channel strategy, expanding market share and leveraging its long-standing partnership with Microsoft.

DePalma brings more than a decade of experience to OpenText, hailing from IT service management vendors Datto and, most recently, Kaseya, where he was vice president of business development and then senior vice president of MSP enablement.

“Mike is the perfect fit for OpenText,” Bryan Hauptman, senior vice president of SMB, Americas, at the Waterloo, Ontario-based cybersecurity company, told CRN in an exclusive interview. “He’s in tune with the channel, understands MSPs inside and out and has a leadership style that resonates with the community. His experience with MSPs, combined with his open ecosystem approach, makes him an ideal fit to help us better advocate for MSPs and refine our approach within the community.

“I started about 10 months ago and knew that this was a component we were missing the entire time, but I wanted to make sure that we had everything lined up to execute and make sure that we’re going in the right direction. Sure enough, we are,” he added. “Mike’s timing is perfect because with Secure Cloud having launched last quarter and our road map of products coming out, I think there’s not a better time to have Mike join us now and go off to really support MSPs.”

DePalma’s appointment comes at a crucial time for OpenText, as it seeks to enhance its cybersecurity offerings and build stronger relationships with MSPs. His role will involve not only leading the company’s channel strategy but also reimagining OpenText’s partner program to ensure that it is tailored to the needs of MSPs.

“MSPs today face a complex cybersecurity landscape,” DePalma told CRN. “There are thousands of vendors out there, and MSPs need the right tools and partners to navigate this complexity. I’m here to ensure that OpenText’s cybersecurity solutions stand out and that MSPs know they can rely on us to help them protect their customers while running a profitable business.”

DePalma’s deep understanding of MSPs and their challenges will play a key role in OpenText’s push to make its offerings more accessible. In particular, he plans to focus on simplifying procurement processes and ensuring that MSPs have an easy, streamlined experience when integrating OpenText solutions into their portfolios.

“One of my immediate priorities is revamping our partner program,” he said. “ It’s crucial that we listen to MSPs, understand their pain points and build a program that actually delivers value. We need to make sure that the solutions we offer are not only effective but also easy for MSPs to sell, support and integrate.”

Aside from being an ambassador for the company, a key part of DePalma’s strategy will also involve further leveraging OpenText’s partnership with Microsoft. From offering secure cloud audits to ensuring MSPs don’t overpay for Microsoft products, OpenText aims to help its partners have a seamless Microsoft experience.

DePalma said his leadership promises not only to elevate OpenText’s position within the MSP ecosystem but also ensure that the company’s offerings are designed with MSPs’ unique challenges in mind.

“This is an exciting time for OpenText, and I’m thrilled to join a company that values its partners as much as I do,” he said . “ We have a great stack of technology, and I look forward to helping OpenText connect with MSPs in meaningful ways that make their businesses stronger and more secure.”