VMware’s Channel Leadership Hit with Second Major Shakeup

Todd Surdey, VMware’s co-channel chief, has left his role at the virtualization giant to join Salesforce.com, according to a published report.

Surdey, who served in several executive positions at VMware over the past five years, is joining Salesforce.com as senior vice president of Worldwide Sales for the company’s platform business, CRN reported. He had been appointed to co-lead the company’s channel organization last October.

News of Surdey’s departure marks the second major leadership change for VMware’s channel business, following the earlier announcement that channel chief Dave O’Callaghan would be replaced by Ross Brown, former CEO of Partner InSite.

O’Callaghan left VMware after a two-year stint as channel chief to return to his previous role as an adjunct professor at the University of Denver, according to a VMware representative who spoke with CRN.

Brown took over Callaghan’s position as senior vice president of Worldwide Partners and Alliances at VMware as of Aug. 4. He reports to VMware Chief Operating Officer Carl Eschenbach in his new role.

VMware disclosed that all of Surdey’s direct reports will now report to Brown, with the exception of Loretta Brown, vice president of OEM Alliances, who will report directly to Eschenbach.

Stay tuned on more updates as they develop, and follow Michael Cusanelli on Twitter @mcusanelliSB for additional news.