Datto is hiring Level Platforms Director of Partner Development and Operations Rob Rae, MSPmentor has confirmed. Rae will join Datto, the cloud BDR (backup and disaster recovery) specialist, as VP of business development on Aug. 5.  The move comes as AVG acquires Level Platforms to accelerate its SMB push, and Datto continues to ramp up its cloud BDR initiatives. 

“Datto obviously is a rapidly growing organization with a great channel program,” said Rae. “They reached out and asked if I was interested in joining the channel team. They have a great reputation and a great product set; it was an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.”

Rae was not looking to exit Level Platforms, which AVG is acquiring. AVG “has a good solid plan for Level Platforms; I was very excited about it. That’s the toughest part of this decision. The path AVG is taking is very focused on [Level Platforms’] partners.”

For AVG this is a key period — where continued communications with the Level Platforms base will be extremely important. I think AVG realizes Rae is well-known across Level Platforms’ partner base. His exit may make some Level Platforms partners nervous. But let’s keep things in perspective:

In Rae’s case, the opportunity to become VP of business development at a fast-growth coming was an offer he couldn’t turn down.