The 20 MSP CEO Tim Conkle On The ‘Abrupt’ Departure of Kaseya’s Fred Voccola And His Advice For The Next CEO
“Considering Kaseya just took over the lead in market share in RMM from ConnectWise after 25 years, and their financial numbers were the best they’ve ever recorded, the timing seemed odd,” said The 20 MSP CEO Tim Conkle. “Fred was deeply invested in the MSP space and truly loved the company.”
The next CEO of Kaseya following in the footsteps of Fred Voccola will need to focus on “building relationships across the entire MSP spectrum, not just with the big players,” said Tim Conkle, the CEO of Plano, TX based-Kaseya partner The 20 MSP.
“The incoming leadership will have to balance being results-driven with fostering stronger, broader relationships,” said Conkle, who oversees a highly respected corps of more than 37 MSPs across 23 states. “It’s a challenging job. Success will elevate not just Kaseya but the entire MSP space.”
Conkle said he was “shocked” by the sudden exit of Voccola as Kaseya CEO last week.
“Considering Kaseya just took over the lead in market share in (PSA and) RMM from ConnectWise after 25 years, and their financial numbers were the best they’ve ever recorded, the timing seemed odd,” said Conkle. “Fred was deeply invested in the MSP space and truly loved the company, which made the news even more surprising.”
The departure comes more than 10 years after Voccola took the helm of the Miami-based IT service management provider and has since become the face of the company.
Kevin Thompson, Kaseya board member and executive chairman and CEO of Austin, Texas-based vendor Tricentis, will be assisting the Kaseya leadership team in operating the company as the search for a new CEO is underway. Thompson previously was the CEO of SolarWinds for about 15 years.
“With the right leadership, Kaseya can continue supporting MSPs effectively,” said Conkle. “It’s important to focus on strategic growth and keep the community at the heart of decision-making.”
Conkle, who called Voccola “a very good friend of mine” said he texted the former CEO about his departure but declined to comment on what his message to Voccola entailed.
“I haven’t had a conversation with Fred yet,” he said. “However, I have a close relationship with him and I know how much he cared about the company and the MSP community.”
Conkle also cleared up “baseless” speculation about Kaseya owning The 20 that has been circulating in the channel for quite some time.
“Let me be crystal clear: The 20 is entirely owned by me, some employees and a few MSPs we’ve rolled up,” he said. “There’s no external investment from Kaseya or anyone else. This rumor persists, but it’s baseless. Kaseya owning The 20 would be counterproductive and would create a massive conflict of interest.”
As a leader, Voccola was a high performer and incredibly driven, Conkle said.
“He worked tirelessly to grow the company,” he said. “That kind of leadership isn’t always loved internally, but it benefits the high performers within the organization. He pushed hard to elevate Kaseya to its current position.”
What he said Voccola could have done better was “managing external perception.”
“Inside Kaseya, there’s a culture of care and drive, but that wasn’t always visible to the outside world,” Conkle said.
Check out CRN’s interview with Conkle on Voccola’s departure, what he wants to see next from Kaseya and how the changes impact the channel community.
What was your initial reaction to the news of Fred Voccola’s (pictured) departure?
Honestly, I was shocked. Considering Kaseya just took over the lead in market share in RMM from ConnectWise after 25 years, and their financial numbers were the best they’ve ever recorded, the timing seemed odd. Fred was deeply invested in the MSP space and truly loved the company, which made the news even more surprising.
How critical do you think timing is when it comes to leadership changes in fast-growing tech companies?
Timing is everything. It’s crucial for transitions to be well-planned to avoid confusion or uncertainty. The abrupt nature of Fred’s departure raises questions. Ideally, changes should align with the company’s growth trajectory, but this situation seems to have created uncertainty instead of clarity.
How might Voccola’s departure impact Kaseya’s approach to supporting MSPs?
For most MSPs, I don’t think day-to-day operations will change significantly. A new leader might bring a different style, which could influence the company’s culture, but the overall strategy and tools should remain consistent. What’s crucial is having someone in leadership who genuinely advocates for MSPs.
The sentiment around Kaseya’s culture has been polarizing. What do you think about the company’s cultural challenges?
The outside perception of Kaseya’s culture often stems from past missteps and billing issues, not the culture itself. Many criticisms are based on individual frustrations rather than systemic issues. There’s a dark subculture in the MSP space that thrives on negativity, which doesn’t help the industry move forward.
Are there specific tools or features you’d like to see added to Kaseya’s platform?
I’d love to see them acquire Huntress. It’s a best-in-class tool that complements any tech stack. While I’m a proponent of best-in-class solutions, acquisitions like this would help Kaseya offer a more comprehensive suite.
Do you see Kaseya’s potential IPO as a positive step for the MSP ecosystem?
I think an IPO would be a really cool and necessary thing. For Kaseya, or any company of that size, an IPO helps drive innovation, growth and visibility. It’s not just about raising funds, it’s about establishing credibility in the market. Look at what happened with Datto’s IPO, it didn’t gain traction because the broader market didn’t understand the value of the MSP space. Kaseya’s IPO could change that narrative.
What innovations or strategic shifts would you like to see Kaseya prioritize in the coming years?
Staying the course is key. Integration is their strength, and it’s what they should double down on. One platform that consolidates tools, eliminates the need for complex APIs and keeps data centralized–that’s invaluable for MSPs, especially larger ones. Smaller MSPs may not fully grasp the long-term benefits, but for the ecosystem, it’s transformative.
What additional support or resources from Kaseya would help businesses grow further?
For us, the relationship works well. Our account rep has been phenomenal—something rare in this space. Smaller MSPs sometimes perceive they’re not getting the same attention as larger ones, but the reality is that resources are allocated based on scale. It’s just business logic.
What do you think Fred Voccola did really well, and could have done better, as the leader of Kaseya?
Fred is a high performer, incredibly driven and he worked tirelessly to grow the company. That kind of leadership isn’t always loved internally, but it benefits the high performers within the organization. He pushed hard to elevate Kaseya to its current position.
One area where Fred fell short was managing external perception. Inside Kaseya, there’s a culture of care and drive, but that wasn’t always visible to the outside world. Balancing growth with maintaining relationships and reputation externally is a tough act.
What advice would you give to Kaseya’s incoming CEO, whoever that may be, to enhance the MSP partner experience?
The new CEO needs to focus on building relationships across the entire MSP spectrum, not just with the big players. Fred excelled in creating strong ties with key customers, but the challenge is to extend that culture of care to the broader ecosystem, including smaller MSPs and even skeptics. Kaseya is well-positioned to drive innovation and integration, which benefits the entire ecosystem. The incoming leadership will have to balance being results-driven with fostering stronger, broader relationships. It’s a challenging job. Success will elevate not just Kaseya but the entire MSP space.