Ex-Microsoft Channel Exec Eric Martorano Tapped To Lead Tech Firm

Eric Martorano, who led U.S. channel sales at Microsoft before taking a C-suite position with cloud communications vendor Intermedia, is headed to a new job leading an established overseas software lifecycle management company that's rapidly building out its presence in the U.S.

Martorano will start later this month as CEO and board member of the company primarily focused on delivering and managing software assets, both cloud-based and licensed, for small and mid-size businesses, according to a source with knowledge of Martorano's plans who did not disclose the name of his new company.

The company enables the channel partners of software vendors it works with to drive sales through predictive analytics and artificial intelligence, the source said. As CEO, Martorano will look to establish a closer relationship with Microsoft, where he worked for eight years.

[Related: Over 80 Percent Of New Business At Intermedia Is Coming From Partners]

Martorano will run the company from its offices in Seattle. The development and operations arm will remain overseas, but go-to-market efforts will predominantly focus on the U.S. market, the source said.

Martorano was chosen as CEO partly because of his close ties with the channel and vendor communities, and his deep knowledge of Microsoft's business.

Martorano led U.S. SMB Channel Sales at Microsoft, helping launch the software giant's Cloud Champions program, before a promotion to running the wider channel sales division in 2013 as U.S. Partner Sales General Manager.

In 2016, he left Redmond, Wash. to become senior vice president of worldwide sales and chief revenue officer for Intermedia, a large Microsoft cloud partner.

CRN recognized Martorano among its "50 Most Influential Channel Chiefs" this year for his role leading Intermedia's global sales and strategic partnerships