VMware Nabs HPE President As Firm Adds ‘Dynamic Leaders’

As several of VMware’s top executives depart, the $12 billion software star is nabbing top talent to its executive team, including Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s Canadian leader, Paula Hodgins.

Hodgins’ has joined VMware as its new senior vice president, Worldwide Global Accounts and Telco Sales. She was previously president of HPE Canada, responsible for leading sales, business operations, strategy, marketing and employee engagement in the country. At HPE, Hodgins ran all customer segments and supported some of Canada’s largest companies and government agencies.

“We continue to attract outstanding talent to the company,” said VMware in a statement to CRN. “Paula brings experience and a unique skillset that will be invaluable as we continue to build and reinforce our trusted advisor status with VMware’s largest, most strategic global customers.”

[Related: VMware Q4 Earnings Preview: 5 Big Things To Look Out For]

Hodgins’ also spent 13 years at Microsoft in roles including general manager for Intelligent Cloud Sales, responsible for enterprise Azure Cloud sales for customers in Canada. She was also chief operating officer for enterprise sales in the U.S. and Microsoft Canada.

Hodgins’ replaces VMware’s Dan Zugelder, who has been appointed senior vice president and general manager of the Americas.

In another bold move, VMware hired Bank of America executive Jennifer Manry as vice president of VMware’s Financial Services Global Industries Group. She was previously CIO and managing director of employee technology at the global financial firm for the past three years.

VMware told CRN that Manry, who also serves on the advisory board for Women Who Code, will drive thought leadership in the financial market segment.

“Her vast expertise in the Financial Services vertical, combined with her best-in-class approach to IT and business outcomes, will accelerate our focus on vertical thought leadership and field partnership to drive solutions in this area for VMware,” said the company.

VMware’s worldwide chief operating officer, Sanjay Poonen, took to Twitter to praise the company’s two new executives.

The hiring of Manry and Hodgins follows the departure of several of VMware’s biggest executives, including its former CEO, Pat Geslinger, who left this month to become CEO of Intel.

VMware, which is majority-owned by Dell Technologies, said it plans to continue attracting top notch executive talent from outside the company.

“In addition, we have strong executive bench leadership across the company and are investing heavily in preparing our leaders to take on larger, higher impact roles as new opportunities arise,” VMware told CRN. “Interest from executive candidates in our company remains strong.”

VMware is set to report its fourth fiscal quarter financial earnings on Feb. 25.