30 Notable IT Executive Moves: September 2024

TD Synnex, ConnectWise, Critical Start, ThoughtSpot, Microsoft, CrowdStrike and Capgemini were among the tech companies making key executive hires and moves in September 2024.

New CEOs at TD Synnex, ConnectWise, ThoughtSpot and Critical Start were among the biggest executive moves in September.

Taking those top spots, respectively, were Patrick Zammit, previously with Avnet; Manny Rivelo, formerly of Forcepoint; Ketan Karkhanis, previously of Salesforce; and Scott White, formerly of DoiT International.

[RELATED: 30 Notable IT Executive Moves: August 2024]

September Tech Executive Moves

Microsoft, CrowdStrike and Capgemini were among the other tech giants to make executive moves during the month as companies invest in talent for overseeing sales, technology and partners.

Those executives were:

In September, the U.S. added about 254,000 jobs, larger than expectations of 140,000 jobs, according to CNN.

Read on for more of the 30 notable IT executive moves from September 2024.

Patrick Zammit

Patrick Zammit started in September as CEO of TD Synnex.

Zammit has been with the Clearwater, Fla.-based IT distributor since 2017, when TD’s predecessor, Tech Data, acquired Avnet, according to his LinkedIn account. He previously served as chief operating officer of TD Synnex.

TD increased its 2024 market development funds (MDF) compared to 2023, according to CRN’s 2024 Channel Chiefs.

Manny Rivelo

ConnectWise’s new CEO Manny Rivelo started in September, succeeding Jason Magee.

Rivelo joined the Tampa, Fla.-based MSP tools platform after about three years as CEO of Forcepoint, according to his LinkedIn account. On Aug. 1, Ryan Windham succeeded Rivelo as Forcepoint CEO.

His resume includes about two years as chief customer officer of Arista Networks, leaving in 2020. And he served as CEO of AppViewX for about two years, leaving in 2018, according to his LinkedIn account.

ConnectWise has about 44,000 channel partners worldwide, according to CRN’s 2024 Channel Chiefs.

Ketan Karkharnis

ThoughtSpot named former Salesforce executive Ketan Karkhanis as the data analytics company’s new CEO, filling the top executive post that has been open since Sudheesh Nair stepped down in March. Karkhanis started in his new post on Sept. 25.

ThoughtSpot, which recorded 40 percent growth in its software-as-a-service offerings in its fiscal 2024, said it will look to Karkhanis to maintain the company’s momentum in the competitive data analytics and business intelligence space.

Karkhanis spent more than 12 years at Salesforce, working through two terms at the cloud application giant. Since April 2022 he was executive vice president and general manager of the Salesforce Sales Cloud business, which generated $7 billion in the company’s last fiscal year.

Between May 2020 and April 2022 Karkhanis was chief operating officer of Turvo, a developer of supply chain management and collaboration software, that was acquired by Lineage Logistics in June 2022. Before that he worked at Salesforce in various management posts for just short of 10 years, between July 2010 and May 2020, reaching the position of senior vice president of product management.

Gautam Mehandru

Gautam Mehandru became senior vice president of revenue marketing at CrowdStrike in September.

Mehandru joined the Austin, Texas-based security vendor after about three years with Illumio, according to his LinkedIn account. He left Illumio with the title of chief marketing officer.

His resume includes about a year with Tanium, leaving in 2021 with the title of global vice president of product portfolio and customer marketing.

In CRN’s 2024 Channel Chiefs, CrowdStrike reported an expected increase in the number of channel partners it works with over the following 12 months.

Barbara Larson

SentinelOne hired a new chief financial officer in September–Barbara Larson.

Larson came to the Mountain View, Calif.-based security vendor after about 10 years with Workday, according to her LinkedIn account. She served as Workday’s CFO.

Her resume includes about seven years with VMware, leaving the vendor in 2014 with the title of senior director of field financial planning and analysis.

In CRN’s 2024 Channel Chiefs, SentinelOne reported having more than 6,000 channel partners worldwide.

Madhavi Mukherji

Madhavi Mukherji became an executive vice president with Capgemini’s Americas telecommunications, media and technology business unit.

Mukherji joined the France-based company–No. 4 on CRN’s 2024 Solution Provider 500–after about a year with Onix, according to her LinkedIn account. She left Onix with the title of vice president of sales and strategic accounts.

Her resume includes more than six years with HCLTech, leaving the solution provider in 2023 with the title of vice president.

Aparna Rayasam

Aparna Rayasam joined F5 in September, taking on the role of senior vice president and head of engineering.

Rayasam came to the Seattle-based security vendor after about a year with Palo Alto Networks, accordingto her LinkedIn account. She left Palo Alto Networks with the title of SVP of product management for the company’s cloud-delivered security services.

Her resume includes about a year with Trellix, leaving in 2023 with the title of chief product officer.

F5 has about 2,000 channel partners worldwide, according to CRN’s 2024 Channel Chiefs.

Scott White

Scott White became CEO of Critical Start in September.

White joined the Plano, Texas-based company–a memberof CRN’s 2024 MSP 500–after about four years as chief operating officer and revenue officer of DoiT International, according to his LinkedIn account.

His resume includes more than 16 years with Rackspace. He left the company in 2018 with the title of vice president of sales.

Carolina Dybeck Happe

In September, Microsoft hired Carolina Dybeck Happe as its new executive vice president and chief operations officer.

Happe came to the Redmond, Wash.-based tech giant after about four years with General Electric, according to her LinkedIn account. She left GE with the title of chief financial officer and senior vice president.

She started with GE in 2020 and worked on the spin-off of GE HealthCare in 2023 and spin-off of GE’s energy businesses into GE Vernova, completed in April. GE itself became GE Aerospace.

Microsoft has more than 400,000 partners worldwide and expected the number of channel partners it works with to increase within the next 12 months, according to CRN’s 2024 Channel Chiefs.

Eric Torres

Pax8 hired Eric Torres in September, tasking him with the role of vice president of channel and community engagement.

Torres came to the Greenwood, Colo.-based distributor and cloud marketplace vendor after more than two years with ScalePad, according to his LinkedIn account. He left ScalePad with the title of channel VP.

His resume includes about seven years with Datto, leaving in 2022 with the title of channel development director. Kaseya closed on its acquisition of Datto that same year.

Pax8 has about 31,000 partners worldwide, according to CRN’s 2024 Channel Chiefs.

Larissa Crandall

Larissa Crandall became New Relic’s global vice president of channel and alliances in September.

Crandall joined the San Francisco-based observability software provider after more than a year with Veeam, according to her LinkedIn account. She left Veeam with the same title.

Her resume includes about four years with Gigamon. She left the vendor with the same title in 2022.

Rick Orloff

Pure Storage brought on a new chief information security officer and vice president in September–Rick Orloff.

Orloff joined the Santa Clara, Calif.-based data storage vendor after about four years with 8x8, according to his LinkedIn account. He left 8x8 with the title of group vice president and CISO.

His resume includes about a year as CISO of eBay, leaving in 2015. He also served as chief security officer and senior vice president of operations at Kaseya for about a year, leaving in 2020.

Pure Storage reported an increase to its 2024 MDF budget compared to 2023 in CRN’s 2024 Channel Chiefs.

Tim Coach

Cynomi brought on Tim Coach in September as chief evangelist of community and channels.

Coach joined the Israel-based security vendor after about two years with Pia, according to his LinkedIn account. He left Pia with the title of global channel chief.

His resume includes about a year with Gradient MSP, leaving in 2022 with the title of director. Coach also served in the U.S. Army for about seven years, leaving in 1997 as a global squad leader, according to his LinkedIn account.

Greg Elliott

In September, Greg Elliott joined ScalePad, taking on the role of senior vice president of customer success.

Elliott came to the Vancouver, British Columbia-based lifecycle management tools provider after about four years with Loopio, according to his LinkedIn account. He left Loopio with the title of SVP of customer experience and customer success.

His resume includes about a year with PatSnap, leaving in 2020 with the title of customer success VP.

All of ScalePad’s overall sales come through indirect channel and alliance relationships, according to CRN’s 2024 Channel Chiefs.

Keith Strier

In September, Advanced Micro Devices hired Keith Strier as senior vice president of global AI markets.

Strier joined the Santa Clara, Calif.-based chipmaker after about five years with Nvidia, according to his LinkedIn account. He left Nvidia with the title of VP of worldwide AI initiatives.

His resume includes about five years with EY, leaving the firm in 2019 as global AI leader.

AMD has about 700 channel partners worldwide, according to CRN’s 2024 Channel Chiefs.

Karim Temsamani

Karim Temsamani became president of next generation security at Palo Alto Networks in September.

Temsamani joined the Santa Clara, Calif.-based security vendor after about two years as CEO of Carlytics, according to his LinkedIn account.

His resume includes about 12 years with Google, leaving in 2019 with the title of president of Asia Pacific.

Palo Alto Networks has about 15,000 channel partners worldwide, according to CRN’s 2024 Channel Chiefs.

Megan Minkiewicz

Megan Minkiewicz joined Atlassian in September as head of global partner experience.

Minkiewicz came to the Australia-based collaboration tools vendor after about eight years with Pure Storage, according to her LinkedIn account. She left Pure Storage with the title of senior director of global partner programs and experience.

Her resume includes about two years with Gigamon. She left the company in 2016 with the title of director of worldwide channel marketing.

Atlassian is part of CRN’s 2024 Partner Program Guide.

Renay Rutter

Evolving Solutions brought on a new chief growth officer in September–Renay Rutter.

Rutter came to the Minneapolis-based company–No. 139 on CRN’s 2024 Solution Provider 500–after about five years with FRSecure, according to her LinkedIn account. She left FRSecure with the title of chief operations officer.

Her resume includes more than 10 years with Great Plains Software, holding the titles of general manager and director before leaving in 2000. Microsoft bought Great Plains in 2001.

Steve Foley

In September, BlueAlly hired Steve Foley as senior vice president of the U.S. federal business.

Foley joined the Cary, N.C.-based company–a memberof CRN’s 2024 MSP 500–after about a year with Dremio, according to his LinkedIn account. He left Dremio with the title of director of federal sales.

His resume includes about two years with Fortanix, leaving in 2023 with the title of U.S. federal director.

Al Maitino

Consolidated Communications hired Al Maitino in September, tasking him with the role of senior vice president of commercial sales.

Maitino came to the Mattoon, Ill.-based company–No. 50 on CRN’s 2024 Solution Provider 500–after about three years with Lightpath, according to his LinkedIn account. He left Lightpath with the title of SVP of enterprise sales.

His resume includes about seven years with Lightower and Crown Castle, leaving in 2021 with the title of VP of enterprise sales for the Northeast. Crown Castle bought Lightower in 2017.

Patrick O'Hanlon

In September, ThunderCat Technology hired Patrick O'Hanlon as senior vice president of strategy and business development.

O’Hanlon joined the Reston, Va.-based company–No. 48 on CRN’s 2024 Solution Provider 500–after more than 14 years with Morgan Stanley, according to his LinkedIn account. He left Morgan Stanley with the title of chief procurement officer.

His resume includes about four years with Credit Suisse, leaving in 2010 with the title of global chief operating officer for corporate real estate and services. He has experience from the U.S. Army, leaving in 1997 after serving as a cavalry company commander, according to his LinkedIn account.

Jason Ferguson

Jason Ferguson became senior vice president of group information systems and North American chief information officer of Computacenter in September.

Ferguson came to the England-based company–No. 18 on CRN’s 2024 Solution Provider 500–after more than four years with Xerox, according to his LinkedIn account. He left Xerox with the title of chief information officer for Xerox Financial Services.

His resume includes about 11 years with Hewlett Packard Enterprise and predecessor companies. He left HPE in 2016 with the title of vice president of customer success transformation.

In 2015, Hewlett-Packard split into HPE and HP. Ferguson joined Hewlett-Packard with the 2008 acquisition of Electronic Data Systems (EDS).

Christine Kiefer

In September, Christine Kiefer joined Ensono, taking on the role of senior vice president of digital and consulting in North America.

Kiefer came to the Downers Grove, Ill.-based company–a member of CRN’s 2024 MSP 500–after about four years with ManpowerGroup and its Experis business, according to her LinkedIn account. She left ManpowerGroup with the title of SVP for IT consulting and services with Experis.

Her resume includes more than 16 years with Atos, leaving the solution provider in 2021 with the title of chief operating officer and vice president of digital, cloud and application services for North America, according to her LinkedIn account.

Kimberly Stein

Kimberly Stein joined Kyndryl in September, taking on the role of vice president of IT.

Stein came to the New York-based company–No. 9 on CRN’s 2024 Solution Provider 500–after about two years with Parexel, according to her LinkedIn account. She left Parexel with the title of senior VP of corporate technology.

Her resume includes more than 18 years with Hewlett Packard Enterprise and its predecessor, Hewlett-Packard. She left HPE in 2019 with the title of senior director for IT for the financial services business.

Christopher Grammer

Christopher Grammer returned to Calian IT & Cyber Solutions in September, taking on the role of vice president of solution consulting.

Grammar previously worked at the Ottawa, Ontario-based company–a member of CRN’s 2024 MSP 500–for more than nine years, leaving in 2023 as VP of solution technology, according to his LinkedIn account.

Before his return, he worked at Resound Networks for about a year as chief information officer, according to his LinkedIn account.

Hari Iyer

AVI-SPL brought on Hari Iyer in September as vice president of product management of software-as-a-service (SaaS).

Iyer came to the Tampa, Fla.-based company–a member of CRN’s 2024 MSP 500–after about a year with Signet Jewelers, according to his LinkedIn account. He left Signet with the title of director of product management for the digital shop and connected commerce.

His resume includes about two years with SiriusXM, leaving the company in 2023 with the title of senior director of product management for connected vehicles and infotainment.

Matt Ricci

GTT tapped Matt Ricci as its new vice president of service assurance.

Ricci came to the Arlington, Va.-based company–No. 51 on CRN’s 2024 Solution Provider 500–after 19 years on and off with Lumen Technologies and predecessor company Level 3, according to his LinkedIn account.

He left Lumen with the title of senior director of service delivery for federal and state, local and education (SLED) clients.

He left Level 3 in 2012–before its 2017 acquisition by Lumen, then known as CenturyLink–with the title of vice president of service delivery, according to his LinkedIn account.

Frederick Lodge

In September, Peraton brought on a new vice president of business operations for its Citizen Security & Public Services (CSPS) group–Frederick Lodge.

Lodge joined the Reston, Va.-based company–No. 23 on CRN’s 2024 Solution Provider 500–after about a year with BigBear.ai, according to his LinkedIn account. He left BigBear with the title of VP of operations.

His resume includes about three years with Linkware. He left the company in 2024 with the title of senior director of business operations.

Jim Dowson

Jim Dowson came to Presidio in September, taking on the role of vice president of engineering.

Dowson came to the New York-based company–a member of CRN’s 2024 MSP 500–after about two years with Park Place Technologies, according to his LinkedIn account. He left Park Place with the title of VP of engineering presales.

His resume includes about 20 years with EMC, leaving the company in 2015 with the title of distinguished engineer and senior director of competitive intelligence. Dell Technologies acquired EMC in 2016.

Kamren Zorgdrager

In September, Judge Consulting Group brought on a new vice president of application development–Kamren Zorgdrager.

Zorgdrager joined the Wayne, Pa.-based company–a member of CRN’s 2024 MSP 500–after about two years with DevReady, according to his LinkedIn account. He left DevReady with the title of VP of developer community and engineering.

His resume includes time with Pluralsight and DevelopIntelligence, which Pluralsight bought in 2020. He left Pluralsight in 2022 with the title of director of instructor development, according to his LinkedIn account.