7 Channel People Making Waves This Week at AWS, IBM, Cato Networks, Cloud Software Group, More
One company has exited all of its chapter 11 bankruptcy cases.
January 13, 2023
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Software and cloud solutions provider SoftwareOne has rebranded to position itself as a one-stop-shop for B2B IT.
The firm explained that for 30 years, SoftwareOne has been a software reseller. Now it says the Switzerland-based company has evolved into a global software and cloud solutions provider.
The company offers cloud and application services, SAP services, digital workplaces, security and FinOps as well as commercial software offerings such as IT asset management (ITAM), software sourcing and software publisher advisory. SoftwareOne has also developed vertical expertise in the construction, finance, government and nonprofit sectors.
“[This] reflects the all-in-one provider we have become,” said SoftwareOne CEO Dieter Schlosser, making waves on the rebrand. “The way organizations buy and manage software has been changing for years, driven by the move to cloud and an everything-as-a-service model. Drawing on our strong foundation and licensing expertise, we have built a holistic offering and an exceptional team of experts to serve our clients along their entire cloud journeys.”
Learn more here about the company’s market positioning.
Frank Rauch, who made waves as the architect of channel programs at HPE, VMware and Check Point, will lead worldwide partner efforts for secure access service edge (SASE) provider Cato Networks.
Rauch, whose previous employers have specialized in networking, SD-WAN, cybersecurity and cloud, said he saw in Cato a convergence of those three technologies. Cato has earned the reputation of one of the industry’s first pure SASE players, whose cloud-based platform combines advanced cybersecurity and networking features.
“The cloud is the enterprise’s present and future, appliances are its past. Forward-thinking channel partners know their future lies in the cloud, but they need the right platform and technology partner to profit from the cloud. After doing my due diligence, I found Cato to be that partner,” Rauch said.
Read more here about Rauch’s goals for Cato Networks.
Mark Wyllie, a highly decorated member of the IBM partner community, is making waves by leaving the channel partner organization he founded and moving to Masters Telecom.
The former CEO of Flagship Solutions Group has accepted the position of president of embedded solutions and alliances at Masters. For Wyllie, the job change establishes him at one of the channel’s leading solution providers for wireless and telecom.
Learn more here about Wyllie’s time at IBM.
Managed network services provider GTT Communications has exited all of its chapter 11 bankruptcy cases, having cut $2.8 billion off its debt and brought in new investors.
GTT, which filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in October 2021, announced that it has completed its financial restructuring process. The announcement comes a little more than a month after GTT worked out a deal with key creditors to amend its reorganization plan in light of current macroeconomic challenges.
GTT Americas president Jim Delis made waves when he said the company looks forward to engaging with channel partners in 2023 and beyond.
“Today’s announcement is extremely positive news for GTT and our partners. We have emerged as a financially strengthened company with an enhanced capital structure and reduced debt. We continue to provide the highest quality service to customers around the world, with improved operations to capitalize on new market opportunities for networking and security services,” Delis told Channel Futures.
Find out more here about GTT’s plans to impact the channel.
IBM is making some top leadership changes, led by the promotion of Rob Thomas to chief commercial officer. Chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna made waves on Thursday when he announced several executive changes.
The leadership updates come just after the recent launch of IBM’s new Partner Plus program.
Tom Rosamilia, a 40-year company veteran, is retiring. Besides IBM Software, Rosamilia has led various groups, including IBM Systems, corporate strategy, mainframe and the company’s Power systems.
“Tom has been a key leader with a strong track record of success across software and systems, holding many high-profile leadership roles and delivering outstanding business results,” Krishna wrote in a post announcing several executive moves.
Read about IBM’s new software leadership here.
Amazon started the new year with layoffs affecting more than 18,000 employees. This is the largest group of tech workers to face job cuts in recent months.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announced the layoffs in a message shared with employees. He made waves for what he didn’t say — whether the layoffs include Amazon Web Services (AWS). It was revealed late in the week that AWS would appear to be unaffected by the cuts.
Nonetheless, AWS implemented a hiring freeze last year which it has yet to lift.
Read Edward Gately’s reporting about who was mostly impacted by the job cuts.
Cloud Software Group (CSG) is confirming layoffs impacting 15% of its workforce, including Citrix and Tibco. Tom Krause, CSG’s CEO, made waves this week by announcing the Citrix and Tibco layoffs in a blog.
CSG notified roughly 15% of the Citrix and Tibco workforce that their roles were eliminated or redundant as part of its planning process for the new company. Last fall, Vista Equity Partners and Evergreen Coast Capital completed their $16.5 billion acquisition of Citrix and combined it with Tibco, creating CSG.
Find out here how the Citrix, Tibco layoffs are part of the corporate plan.
Cloud Software Group (CSG) is confirming layoffs impacting 15% of its workforce, including Citrix and Tibco. Tom Krause, CSG’s CEO, made waves this week by announcing the Citrix and Tibco layoffs in a blog.
CSG notified roughly 15% of the Citrix and Tibco workforce that their roles were eliminated or redundant as part of its planning process for the new company. Last fall, Vista Equity Partners and Evergreen Coast Capital completed their $16.5 billion acquisition of Citrix and combined it with Tibco, creating CSG.
Find out here how the Citrix, Tibco layoffs are part of the corporate plan.
Channel people at AWS, IBM, Cato Networks, Cloud Software Group and more are among the individuals making waves this week. Channel Futures’ Channel People Making Waves showcases those who have made an impact over the last seven days. (See our slideshow above.) It’s also a recap of the most-read stories on our website.
IBM made waves this week when it announced several executive changes to leadership. This was hot on the heels of the launch of the company’s new Partner Plus program. IBM is not keeping people guessing with these rapid-fire moves so early in the year.
Other companies are making early changes, too, just not so desirable ones for employees. Amazon announced layoffs affecting more than 18,000 workers. It may be the greatest number of layoffs within the tech industry in recent months. However, it doesn’t appear that AWS employees were casualties of the job cuts. This was our No. 2 most-read article of the week. Which layoff story made the top spot?
Finally, one channel leader made a name for himself at HPE, VMware and Check Point. He will now lead worldwide partner efforts at Cato Networks and has already stated his goals for the company. Read more about this executive in our roundup.
That’s a wrap for the week. And, if you didn’t catch our previous edition, you can find it here.
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