Posted by Palo Alto, USA: VMware Board of Directors appointed Rangarajan (Raghu) Raghuram as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Board member, effective June 1, 2021.
With Raghuram’s appointment, the company has filled the vacant role and position of CEO after Pet Gelsinger left VMware to join Intel as CEO in mid-February this year. After Gelsinger’s exit, VMware CFO Zane Rowe was given the additional charge as Interim CEO.
At the same, VMware Board also informed that Sanjay Poonen, VMware COO, Customer Operations has made a personal decision to leave the company after a seven-year stint. Poonen’s decision to exit the company, according to a media report is due to the board’s naming of the new CEO.
Raghuram has been with VMware since 2003. He’s an industry veteran and currently holds the position of EVP and COO – Products and Cloud Services at VMware.
During these years with VMware, Raghuram has helped steer the company’s strategic direction and its technology evolution. He helped grow the core virtualization business, drove VMware’s software defined data center strategy, constructed and guided VMware’s cloud computing business.
In addition, he contributed to SaaS transformation efforts, played a pivotal role in the company’s M&A strategy, and has been key in driving partnerships with Dell Technologies, hyper-scalers and other strategic partners.
“I am thrilled to have Raghu step into the role of CEO at VMware. Throughout his career, he has led with integrity and conviction, playing an instrumental role in the success of VMware,” commented Michael Dell, Chairman of the VMware Board of Directors.
“Raghu is now in position to architect VMware’s future, helping customers and partners accelerate their digital businesses in this multi-cloud world,” added Dell.
“VMware is uniquely poised to lead the multi-cloud computing era with an end-to-end software platform spanning clouds, the data center and the edge, helping to accelerate our customers’ digital transformations,” said Raghu Raghuram.
“I am honored, humbled and excited to have been chosen to lead this company to a new phase of growth. We have enormous opportunity, we have the right solutions, the right team, and we will continue to execute with focus, passion and agility,” added Raghuram.
“After a thorough and thoughtful search, the VMware Board concluded that Raghu is the best person to lead the company as CEO, because he embodies our innovative culture, represents our values, and has a clear vision for VMware’s future,” said Paul Sagan, VMware’s Lead Independent Director.
“We also want to thank Zane Rowe for his leadership as Interim CEO and the crucial role he plays continuing as CFO,” added Sagan.
VMware Board also announced that Sumit Dhawan has been named President, leading all go-to-market functions including Worldwide Sales, Worldwide Partner and Commercial Organisation, Customer Experience and Success (CXS), Marketing, and Communications.
Dhawan currently serves as SVP and Chief Customer Officer (CCO) at VMware, where he has helped design the business strategy for emerging multi-cloud and subscriptions offerings, transforming how VMware’s customers can consume VMware services.
“On behalf of the Board and the company, we thank Sanjay for his many contributions to VMware and wish him well in his future endeavors,” commented Sagan.
“I extend my warm congratulations to Raghu on his promotion to CEO and know he will take the company to new heights. I will be cheering on the company’s success, as I embark on my next adventure,” commented Sanjay Poonen, Chief Operating Officer, Customer Operations, VMware.