Sandy Carter ‘Extremely Sad and Excited’ to Leave AWS

Sandy Carter is exiting Amazon Web Services after nearly five years there. As Channel Futures reported last month, Carter, head of the public sector group at the world’s largest cloud computing provider, has decided to depart. Some may find the timing interesting — Carter leaves as Ruba Borno enters as global channel chief. We look into whether the changes are connected.

In other cloud computing news this week, multinational technology services provider Atos is continuing its 2021 buying spree. Find out which company it’s purchasing. Finally, Deloitte has made a similar move with a U.S.-based Oracle expert.

Get the scoop in this early-in-the-week cloud computing news roundup.

Sandy Carter Discusses AWS Departure

AWS’ Sandy Carter

Sandy Carter is talking about her impending departure from Amazon Web Services, which Channel Futures reported on last month.

“No one ever envisions a day when they leave Amazon, one of the best companies in the world,” Carter wrote on LinkedIn on Dec. 6. “Especially when the team that they will leave is arguably the best team in the galaxy with just the right mix of empathy, passion, and smarts. However, today I am in that exact place of being extremely sad and excited at the same time.”

The world’s largest cloud computing provider confirmed on Nov. 22 that Carter, vice president of worldwide public sector partners and programs, is leaving the company after almost five years. Carter is on her way to a startup that, rumor has it, has been pursuing her for some time. Carter has not yet made public where she is going or what she will do for her new employer. She noted in her LinkedIn post that she will share details later this week.

Reportedly, Carter is not leaving because of AWS’ new global channel chief. Channel Futures has it on good authority that Carter’s career change does not come as a result of Ruba Borno’s arrival. While the timing might appear to indicate such a shift, Borno has not implemented a staff reorganization. (However, this marks only Borno’s second full week in her new role, so time will tell.) Also, Carter’s leaving does not seem to have anything to do with wanting the position Borno now holds, according to people with knowledge of the situation.

Meanwhile, Jeffrey Kratz, who has worked in the AWS public sector group for nine years, will replace Carter.

ATOS Snaps up Cloudreach

Atos is buying another company.

The multinational technology services provider has snapped up several firms so far this year. It now adds Cloudreach to the list. Cloudreach is a top partner with all three hyperscalers — AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud — with more than 1,000 certifications across those vendors. Cloudreach specializes in cloud migration and application development. Atos says Cloudreach’s strengths in consulting, digital transformation, machine learning and more pair well with its own expertise in areas including hybrid cloud, SAP, application modernization, edge computing, IoT and cybersecurity.

Atos’ Adrian Gregory

“The future acquisition of Cloudreach has strong synergetic potential with the existing Atos expertise in cloud, notably in Europe, and enhances the value of our past acquisitions of Syntel, Maven Wave, Edifixio, and, more recently, VisualBI and AppCentrica,” Adrian Gregory, acting co-CEO of Atos, said in a prepared statement. “Coupled with Cloudreach, Atos grows its position as the multicloud powerhouse, especially strengthening our global leadership position delivering AWS solutions.”

Purchasing Cloudreach also will give Atos more reach into North America and greater depth in northern Europe, Gregory noted. Atos expects to close the transaction in the first quarter of 2022. It is not revealing the deal’s terms, although it did say Cloudreach’s revenue should hit about €100 million by the end of this year.

Cloudreach employs more than 600 people throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and India. It is headquartered in London.

Cloudreach’s Brooks Borcherding

“We are excited to take Cloudreach on the next step of its mission to deliver the promise of cloud and drive extraordinary value for our customers,” Brooks Borcherding, Cloudreach CEO, said in a press release. “Our partnerships with Amazon, Microsoft and Google will be accelerated by the combination we are announcing.”

Channel Futures had an inquiry in to Atos about the Cloudreach purchase, …

…but time zone differences led to delays in responding.

Deloitte Targets Oracle Expert

Similar to the Atos-Cloudreach deal, Deloitte is buying cloud consulting firm BIAS, known for its Oracle capabilities.

BIAS, founded in 2000, holds several important government contracts, as well.

Deloitte, a global consultancy and systems integrator, plans to expand its work with public sector and commercial clients using Oracle, thanks to BIAS’ expertise.

Deloitte’s Amit Chaudhary

“Oracle Cloud infrastructure gives our clients powerful compute and networking performance while also delivering a host of infrastructure and platform cloud services,” said Amit Chaudhary, cloud engineering offering leader, and principal at Deloitte. “Combining the experience of the Deloitte and BIAS teams will assist clients as they build powerful foundations for the future.”

Deloitte did not disclose how much it’s paying for BIAS, nor did it say when the deal will wrap.