Avaya Promotes Michael Runda to Global Managed Services Post

Avaya has promoted Michael Runda to senior VP and president of Avaya Client Services — which provides managed services and support solutions to businesses worldwide. Runda’s new position emerges as Avaya and channel partners like NACR push deeper into the managed services industry.

I’m checking to see if or how Runda will work with Ed Nalbandian, VP of operations services and a fellow managed services expert.

Runda is a 30-year veteran of IT. Prior to joining Avaya in 2011, Runda was CEO of the KCS Academy. He has also led support initiatives at such companies as Intuit, Symantec and Oracle, according to an Avaya statement.

Avaya, meanwhile, has won some key managed services deals in 2012, sources tell MSPmentor. And a growing list of Avaya channel partners seem to be following Avaya into the managed services market.

An example: NACR, one of Avaya’s largest channel partners, recently named John F. Lyons as executive VP of services — overseeing the company’s recently launched NACR Ovation Managed Services brand.