Denver-based distributor Pax8 has snagged Rob Rae, the longtime face of Datto and a passionate advocate for MSPs, as the corporate vice president of community and ecosystems, a new role in the company.

“Going through this interview process and meeting with a number of different organizations through this process, their view and passion for the growth of the MSP is second to none,” Rae said of Pax8.

In his new role as corporate vice president of communities and ecosystems, Rae will continue to improve and grow MSP relationships, provide guidance and consultation to implement new programs and partner with the Pax8’s channel team on industry events and community operations. He will also be hosting Pax8’s inaugural Beyond 2023 conference in June.

Nick Heddy, Pax8 chief commerce officer, said “similarities in our DNA” make Rae and Pax8 a good fit. Pax8 is all about helping MSPs grow their business and Rae will be the subject matter expert on that very topic, he said.

“What I love about Rob‘s title and why a lot of people think it’s very avant garde is absolutely where we‘re going,” Heddy said, explaining that Rae’s role will include influencing and amplifying what Pax8’s vendor partners do.

“An ecosystem is the scientific definition of a group of organisms and how they interact with each other and their environments,” Heddy said. “Rob is absolutely going to bring that channel, that MSP lens into everything we do at Pax8. He‘s going to amplify that message into every department and every stakeholder that we have. Rob has done a great job of developing that brand and we just want to take the amazing work he’s been doing for 25 years and amplify it through the Pax8 lens.”

Here are five things to know about Rae moving to Pax8.