6 Top Dell Execs Who Left The Company This Year

Combining for a total of 115 years of experience at Dell Technologies, here are six executives who left the company in 2021 that you should know about.

Totaling 115 Years Of Dell Experience Combined

Dell Technologies is coming off a record-breaking $94.2 billion fiscal year 2021 with big growth plans in store around PCs, storage and across the company’s massive portfolio.

However, the 165,000-employee-strong Dell Technologies has seen some major executive departures in 2021, including many vice presidents and general managers of large Dell business units.

The Round Rock, Texas-based infrastructure giant has yet to see any significant sales impact from the global COVID-19 pandemic, with Dell leaders now focused on red-hot emerging markets. “The next areas we’re looking at are artificial intelligence, edge, cloud, data management, 5G, security—that’s where we’re headed,” said John Byrne, president of North America sales at Dell Technologies, in a recent interview with CRN.

With Dell Technologies’ bullish plans for the future, CRN looks at six top executives who exited the company this year. When combined, the six departures account for roughly 115 years of experience at Dell Technologies.

Thierry Pellegrino

Position: VP, Workloads And Solutions; VP, GM, High-Performance Computing

Years At Dell: 22

Pellegrino departed Dell after spending the majority of his IT career, 22 years, at the company. Pellegrino led all of Dell’s offerings and workload-specific offerings in high-performance computing, artificial intelligence and virtual desktop infrastructure as well as around SAP, SQL and Oracle offerings. He was vice president of workloads and solutions and vice president and general manager of Dell high-performance computing when he departed the company this year.

“After an amazing 22 years with Dell Technologies, I have decided to take some time off before embarking on a new adventure,” said Pellegrino in a recent LinkedIn post. “I will miss the culture, the people and the customer-first passion that we all have at Dell Technologies.”

Bryan Jones

Position: SVP, GM, OEM And IoT Division

Years At Dell: 22

Jones was a longtime Dell marketing veteran who became senior vice president and general manager of the OEM Solutions and IoT Division in 2018, replacing Joyce Mullen, who was promoted to Dell Technologies global channel chief.

Jones led a global division of over 750 sales professionals, systems consultants, hardware and software engineers, project managers and supply chain specialists focused on partnering with customers to drive unique solutions for over 40 verticals around the world.

In an email to CRN this year, Jones said he parted ways with Dell on good terms. “I’m a big fan of Dell Technologies and where they’re going—I’ll be cheering them on from the sidelines,” Jones said. “After 22 years, it was time for me to go find my next professional challenge. I’m taking a little time off with my family before I jump back into something.”

John Tavares

Position: Divisional Vice President

Years At Dell: 25

Tavares left Dell after a quarter-century to become Commvault’s new channel chief this year. Tavares oversaw Dell’s commercial storage business when he left as divisional vice president at Dell, broadly responsible for Dell EMC‘s North America Commercial Central DCS sales. He focused on the development and execution of field strategy for customers conducting various IT, workforce and security transformations. He previously held the role of chief operating officer and director of sales strategy for Dell’s North American commercial business.

“Spending time with [Commvault] and other executives, I was blown away by the potential there is in a number of areas,” said Tavares in an interview with CRN this year. “I was impressed with [CEO] Sanjay [Mirchandani’s] directives about simplification and communication, and I saw an opportunity via the partner organization to help with that vision.”

Roy Robinson

Position: VP, Planning And Operations, Networking And Solutions

Years At Dell: 22

Robinson left Dell this year after more than two decades with the company in various director and vice president roles. Most recently, Robinson was vice president of planning and operations for Dell’s Networking and Solutions Group.

“I have recently left Dell after a very fulfilling 22 years in program management and business operations,” said Robinson in a recent LinkedIn post. “It was a great ride—so many products and programs over the years, but more importantly, so many collaborative and inspiring people! I‘m catching a little rest and helping out with our farmhouse construction as I consider my next challenge.”

Executive roles Robinson held over his 22-year career include vice president of program management for Dell’s Infrastructure Solutions Group and executive director of enterprise program management, responsible for developing and sustaining all Dell enterprise products and solutions.

Ron Pugh

Position: VP, GM, OEM Solutions In The Americas

Years At Dell: 11

Pugh was critical to the creation of Dell’s channel program for OEM solutions in addition to building important alliances for the company over his tenure. Pugh left Dell in 2021 after 11 years in top executive roles, most recently as vice president and general manager for OEM Solutions in the Americas.

Pugh was responsible for Dell EMC OEM Solutions, which designs, builds, ships and supports OEMs and channel partners that utilize industry-standard technology to deliver their IP to the market. In an email to CRN this year, he said had a “fabulous 11-year run working with an incredible team of professionals at a great company.”

In March, Pugh joined CCIntegration as its new president.

Brinda Robin

Position: Edge Partner Ecosystem Lead

Years At Dell: 13

After 13 years at Dell Technologies, Robin left the company last month to become senior director and head of alliances for Harman International. She previously led Dell’s edge partnership efforts as the company’s edge partner ecosystem lead, responsible for strategy relationships and go-to-market with key vendor and systems integrator partners around the edge and retail manufacturing verticals. Robin also held several IoT program manager positions during her tenure.

In a LinkedIn post this month, Robin thanked Dell for 13 “fantastic” years. “It’s been a privilege working across multiple cross-functional teams within Dell. Thank you to each of you who made this journey incredibly enriching and prepared me for larger opportunities,” she said. “My partners will continue to be central and fundamental in everything I do. I look forward to our continued partnership as I embark on my new journey.”