IBM Vet Takes BMC Channel Reins

The Houston-based software vendor has hired Lori Cook as vice president of Global Services, Channels and Emerging Markets. Cook replaces Paige Erickson, vice president of Worldwide Channels and Alliances, who will take a leave of absence from BMC beginning May 6, 2005, according to a pair of internal BMC memos that CRNobtained.

A spokesperson for BMC confirmed the authenticity of the two memos, both written by Cosmo Santullo, senior vice president of Worldwide Sales and Services.

No changes to BMC's current channel programs or policies have been made as a result of the personnel changes, the spokesperson said.

A 24-year veteran of IBM, Armonk, N.Y., Cook most recently was part of IBM's Emerging Markets team, Santullo wrote in the memo that went out Monday. Cook begins work at BMC Monday, according to Santullo.

In his previous memo, distributed Friday, Santullo wrote: "It is with mixed emotion that I announce that Paige Erickson has decided to take a personal leave of absence from BMC.... Over the past 11 years, Paige has made significant contributions to BMC. In her most recent role as V.P. of Worldwide Channels and Alliances, BMC greatly strengthened our commitment to Partners through stronger relationships and our newly launched partner program, the BMC Partner Network."

Erickson is welcome to return when she wants, Santullo wrote.

The changes to BMC's channel leadership come on the heels of the departure of William Donahoo, director of Channel Program Development and Marketing, who was among nearly 900 employees laid off as part of an April 11 company restructuring.

Donahoo had been the primary voice of BMC's channel ambitions since the vendor began a major push last summer to drive more professional services through its partners.

Cook now runs BMC's channel, according to Santullo. Reporting directly to Cook is Chip Nemesi, worldwide vice president of Professional Services; Becky Fuller, vice president of Emerging Growth and Channels, Americas; Edouard Fourcade, vice president of Emerging Growth and Channels, Europe, Middle East and Africa.