VMware has hired Microsoft veteran Jenni Flinders as VP, Worldwide Channels -- a major move that brings deep cloud solutions provider (CSP) partner experience to the enterprise IT software provider.
Flinders arrives at VMware at a key time -- as many of the company's partners shift from traditional IT consulting and services toward recurring revenues. Those business models increasingly involve VMware's various network- and storage-virtualization technologies, along with various workspace as a service capabilities.
Flinders has extensive know-how in recurring revenue opportunities. At Microsoft, she helped to build the foundation for the company's resulting CSP partner program.
VMware's MSP Partner Push Explained
That expertise could bode well for VMware -- especially in the hosting provider and telco markets.
For instance, VMware is striving to help more than 4,000 hosting providers transition to various managed services, Ajay Patel, VP and GM, Cloud Provider Software Business Unit, told ChannelE2E during last month's IBM Think and PartnerWorld 2018 conferences in Las Vegas.
In her new post, Flinders is VMware's worldwide channel chief, responsible for developing and executing overall channel strategy and programs for the company's global ecosystem of solution providers, distributors, OEMs and telecommunications partners, VMware says. She reports to Brandon Sweeney, senior vice president, Worldwide Commercial and Channel Sales, VMware.
In a prepared statement, Sweeney said:
“Jenni has a long and distinguished track record of driving innovation with a diverse set of partners in the IT industry, and we are thrilled to have her as VMware’s new global channel chief. I’m excited to have Jenni work closely with our world-class partner ecosystem to empower our customers to accelerate their digital transformations and integrate public clouds to scale and extend their businesses.”
Flinders Statement and More
Flinders most recently was CEO of Daarlandt Partners, a consulting practice where she focused on advising clients on channel strategy.
In a prepared statement, Flinders said:
“I’m honored to serve as VMware’s new worldwide channel chief, and can’t wait to team with our renowned and robust partner ecosystem. Our partners are key to helping customers realize the value of VMware solutions including our compute, cloud, mobility, networking and security offerings. They are a critical source of valued expertise to customers around the world.”
While VMware's next-generation network- and storage-virtualization businesses are growing rapidly, partners anxiously await clarity on the company's longer-term ownership model. Dell has been considering a reverse merger with VMware, and a decision on that move is expected on or before the Dell Technologies World conference in May.
