Dell Software Channel Chief Blough Leaves Company

Dell Software Group Channel Chief Marvin Blough has left the vendor, the Round Rock, Texas-based company confirmed to CRN Wednesday.

In an email to CRN, a Dell spokesperson said that Blough, who served as vice president of channels and alliances for the Dell Software Group, had left the vendor to ’pursue an opportunity outside of the company.’ CRN reached out to Blough directly about the departure but has not heard back as of press time.

Blough joined Dell as part of the company’s 2012 acquisition of SonicWall, where he served as vice president of sales and helped the company grow from $90 million to $450 million in revenue. After helping facilitate the integration with Dell, Blough assumed responsibility for the worldwide channels of Dell Software, helping transition the group from a direct to a primarily channel-driven go-to-market organization.

[Related: Dell Security Steals FireEye Global Channel Chief To Lead Worldwide Security Sales]

Blough was replaced by Steve Pataky, who joined Dell this week from FireEye, where he was vice president of worldwide channels and alliances. Pataky will now serve as vice president of worldwide security sales at Dell Security, according to his LinkedIn profile.

In an interview with CRN, Curtis Hutcheson, vice president and general manager, Security Solutions at Dell, said the appointment of Pataky is part of a ’rebuilding’ of the company’s sales force in recent months. Hutcheson said to expect more sales changes to come under Pataky’s leadership as the group looks to drive more of a channel focus.

Hutcheson said Dell is looking to ’embrace the next wave of customers that are demanding better solutions’ and, as a result, has been investing in products and engineering. He said Dell is looking to attract high-value security VARs and partners as it invests more in its solutions and the channel go-to-market.

’It’s my goal that every one of our customers has the ability to use one of our VARs. We’re pushing that. That’s been a big change for the business in the past six months,’ Hutcheson said.

Michael Crean, president of Woodbridge, Va.-based Solutions Granted, said he has known Blough for more than 14 years as a longtime SonicWall partner. He said Blough’s departure is a huge loss for Dell and for partners.

’For me, seeing Marvin go is sad,’ Crean said. ’Marvin was a huge channel proponent. Any time I ever needed anything he was there. … Marvin was really instrumental in helping many channel partners succeed.’

That being said, Crean said he was excited to see Dell bring Pataky on board. He said a focus on the channel has been a missing piece since Dell acquired SonicWall in 2012, but Pataky’s appointment shows the company’s intent to invest in its SonicWall partners.

’It’s great to see the talent come in like Steve. … If there’s someone to emulate, that’s him. That news to me was incredibly significant and holds great hope for the future,’ Crean said.