N-able CEO Sees Kaseya CEO Exit As Opportunity: ‘We’re Not Slowing Down’

‘I’ll say it again – they aren’t commodities. Our partners are the secret sauce behind protecting our global midmarket and it’s a really exciting time to be doing this,’ says N-able CEO John Pagliuca.

As the MSP market continues to evolve, N-able’s strategic investments and leadership stability offer a refreshing contrast to the instability seen at other major players. That’s the message N-able CEO John Pagliuca has for MSPs amid the CEO shake-up at Kaseya, which sent shockwaves through the MSP community.

For MSPs looking for long-term, scalable solutions, N-able’s continued focus is on best-in-class tools and customer growth and we’re setting the stage for success in 2025 and beyond,” Pagliuca told CRN.

Pagliuca is doubling down on N-able’s commitment to MSPs after Fred Voccola stepped down as CEO of Miami-based Kaseya, a competitor of N-able’s, after 10 years leading the company.

For Pagliuca, he said N-able is doing things differently.

“With change comes a pause, and during that pause companies reassess strategy and leadership,” he said. “That can create uncertainty, and while others are figuring things out, we’re moving forward. We’re not slowing down. In fact, we’re ramping up. Our acquisition of Adlumin was a strategic move to ensure we’re delivering the best security solutions for MSPs and IT departments, especially as we head into 2025. So, while there may be some uncertainty elsewhere, we’re focused on delivering growth and service excellence to our customers.”

He added that N-able is building a success path for its partners, calling them the secret sauce as they’re a major part of the vendor’s momentum.

“I’ll say it again – they aren’t commodities,” he said. “Our partners are the secret sauce behind protecting our global midmarket and it’s a really exciting time to be doing this.”

CRN spoke to Pagliuca about the CEO shake-up, the evolving MSP landscape and how N-able is positioning itself as a stable, long-term partner for MSPs looking to grow in 2025 and beyond.

What was your initial reaction to Fred’s departure as CEO of Kaseya. How do you see this affecting the industry?

You know, I wouldn’t say it’s completely surprising. The industry has always been in flux, and you hear rumblings now and again. There’s been a lot of change lately. For us at N-able, our focus has been more about augmenting our capabilities. We’ve been working to integrate acquisitions like the one with Adlumin, and we've brought in some fantastic leadership with people who bring deep cybersecurity expertise. Our team has a solid foundation, with folks like Frank Coletti, who's been with us for over 20 years. So, while other companies are dealing with leadership instability, we're confident in our team’s stability and our ability to stay the course.

How do you think this instability at Kaseya and other companies affects the broader MSP market?

I think the industry is maturing, and with that comes the need for different leadership skill sets. When I started in tech, companies were much smaller, but now they’re scaling fast and that requires leaders with experience at scale. At N-able, we’ve got a great mix of industry veterans and folks with experience in large, multi-billion-dollar companies—people who’ve seen what it takes to scale and grow. That’s key not just for us but for MSPs too. As they grow, they’ll hit inflection points and they need leadership that can handle those transitions. That’s what we’re aiming to offer, guidance through that next phase of growth.

With the leadership shakeups in the industry, do you think this presents an opportunity for companies like N-able to reshape the narrative, especially toward long-term relationships and service excellence?

Absolutely. With change comes a pause, and during that pause companies reassess strategy and leadership. That can create uncertainty, and while others are figuring things out, we’re moving forward. We’re not slowing down. In fact, we’re ramping up. Our acquisition of Adlumin was a strategic move to ensure we’re delivering the best security solutions for MSPs and IT departments, especially as we head into 2025. So, while there may be some uncertainty elsewhere, we’re focused on delivering growth and service excellence to our customers.

Speaking of the Adlumin acquisition, how does the mix of new leadership and continuity at N-able help the company navigate the evolving MSP landscape?

It’s all about bringing diversity of thought into the mix. With the new leadership from Adlumin, we’re bringing in fresh perspectives, especially on the cybersecurity side. Our chief strategy officer has decades of experience in the cybersecurity space. This expertise is critical as we develop our product and service offerings to meet the needs of MSPs. Our team now combines industry veterans with fresh eyes, and that diversity of thought fuels innovation. We’re building something stronger together, like a quilt—each piece adds its own strength, and together, they create something more resilient.

Given the recent leadership transitions at companies like Kaseya and ConnectWise, are you seeing more MSPs turning to N-able?

It's still a bit early to tell, but we’re definitely having more conversations with MSPs every day. Many of them are already using N-able, but others are evaluating their options. As MSPs scale, they want vendors that can grow with them, and there’s a real opportunity for us to provide that. We’re focusing on delivering the tools and support that MSPs need to grow their businesses, especially as we move into 2025. The market’s evolving, and MSPs are looking for a vendor that can help them scale securely and effectively.

Can you elaborate on N-able’s philosophy regarding MSPs as non-commodities and how that impacts your product development and overall vision?

The idea that MSPs and the services they provide are commodities is something I completely disagree with. Good MSPs are far from commoditized—they’re differentiated by the quality of the services they provide, the value they bring to their clients and how they drive top-line growth. That’s where we come in. Our tools are designed to help MSPs deliver the best security and service to their customers. We’re not focused on ‘good enough’ solutions, we’re focused on best-in-class offerings. Our acquisition of Adlumin gave us a best-in-class XDR solution and we continue to invest in tools like Cove for data protection. Other vendors may try to compete on price, but we believe that’s a race to the bottom. Instead, we’re helping MSPs grow their businesses and build long-term value, and that’s how they win.

What would you say to Kaseya partners who might be considering N-able as an alternative?

I’d say if you’re looking for a partner who’s here for the long term, with a focus on best-in-class solutions and future-proofing your business, then N-able is the right choice for you. We believe in an open ecosystem, where we work with third-party technologies to provide the best solutions for MSPs. We’re not a closed system, we’re focused on what’s best for our partners and helping them grow their businesses. If you’re looking for a partner that can help you scale, build your top-line growth and differentiate your services, N-able is where you should be.

N-able Empower is coming up in April in Berlin. Can you tease any major announcements coming out of the conference this year?

We’re focusing on a few key areas: cybersecurity, compliance and the next big opportunity, which is AI. In 2025, MSPs will be monetizing things that were once just part of the hype cycle, like AI and advanced security tools. The time to act is now and we’re ready to help our partners take full advantage of these opportunities. We’re pushing the envelope on AI and cybersecurity and we’ll be sharing more on how MSPs can use these technologies to drive revenue. It’s an exciting time for the industry and we’re looking forward to helping our MSP partners realize their full potential.