NetApp Continues to Expand Sales Leadership Bench to Drive Aggressive Growth with U.S. Enterprises

Rhea-AI Summary

NetApp (NASDAQ: NTAP), a leading data infrastructure company, has announced the appointment of Mike Sakalas as the Vice President of U.S. Enterprise Sales. Sakalas, who brings over two decades of IT industry experience, will report to Riccardo Di Blasio, SVP of North America Sales.

His role includes developing and executing NetApp's U.S. enterprise strategy and working closely with internal teams and partners to enhance customer engagements. Before joining NetApp, Sakalas held leadership roles at Pure Storage, EMC, and Southern Cross Computer Systems.

This strategic hire aims to drive aggressive growth and customer success in the U.S. market.

Positive

• Mike Sakalas brings over 20 years of IT industry experience to NetApp.
• Sakalas had a successful tenure as VP of Enterprise and U.S. Global Sales at Pure Storage.
• Sakalas has proven leadership in both Asia-Pacific and U.S. markets.
• Riccardo Di Blasio supports Sakalas' appointment, highlighting his strategic approach and customer-focused mindset.
• NetApp aims to drive aggressive growth and foster innovation with this hire.

Negative

• The press release does not provide specific financial metrics or growth projections.
• Potential risks associated with leadership transitions are not addressed.
• The impact of this appointment on short-term financial performance is unclear.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- NetApp® (NASDAQ: NTAP), the intelligent data infrastructure company, today announced that it strengthened its sales team to accelerate growth objectives and facilitate customer success by hiring Mike Sakalas as the company’s Vice President of U.S. Enterprise Sales. Sakalas will report to NetApp’s Senior Vice President of North America Sales, Riccardo Di Blasio. Sakalas will oversee the development and execution of NetApp’s enterprise business in the United States, playing a pivotal role in defining and implementing the company’s go-to-market strategy. Sakalas will partner closely with internal teams and NetApp partners to drive strategic customer engagements as NetApp expands its offerings and shapes the next level of the customer experience.

With over two decades of experience in the IT industry, Sakalas brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his new position. Prior to joining NetApp, he served as the Vice President of Enterprise and U.S. Global Sales at Pure Storage, where he also previously led sales for its Australia and New Zealand regions. Throughout his career, Sakalas has held leadership positions in prominent technology companies, including EMC and Southern Cross Computer Systems, where he served as CEO for more than two years.

“Mike Sakalas brings a proven track record of success to the NetApp team,” said Riccardo Di Blasio. “His extensive experience and customer-focused mindset, combined with a deep knowledge of the partner ecosystem, make him the ideal candidate to drive our U.S. enterprise business forward. I have no doubt that Mike’s leadership will contribute significantly to our continued success in North America.”

Sakalas is an accomplished sales executive, with a strong track record in both the Asia-Pacific and U.S. markets. His strategic approach, coupled with his ability to build high-performing, multicultural teams, will be instrumental in leading NetApp’s U.S. enterprise business to new heights.

“NetApp’s reputation for industry-leading data management solutions and dedication to customer success are second to none,” said Mike Sakalas, VP of U.S. Enterprise Sales. “Joining the company represents an exciting opportunity to drive growth, foster innovation, and deliver exceptional value to our customers. I look forward to working with my team to lead the ongoing development and execution of the enterprise business in the U.S.”

NetApp is committed to attracting leaders who empower our teams to navigate the complexities of a rapidly changing industry so that the company can deliver on the promise to put our customers at the center of everything we do.

Additional Resources

• NetApp Appoints Market Growth and Revenue Operations Leader Dallas Olson to Chief Commercial Officer Role
• NetApp Appoints Technology Industry Titan Alessandra Yockelson as Chief Human Resources Officer
• NetApp Appoints Riccardo Di Blasio as Senior Vice President of North America Sales

About NetApp

NetApp is the intelligent data infrastructure company, combining unified data storage, integrated data services, and CloudOps solutions to turn a world of disruption into opportunity for every customer. NetApp creates silo-free infrastructure, harnessing observability and AI to enable the industry’s best data management. As the only enterprise-grade storage service natively embedded in the world’s biggest clouds, our data storage delivers seamless flexibility. In addition, our data services create a data advantage through superior cyber resilience, governance, and application agility. Our CloudOps solutions provide continuous optimization of performance and efficiency through observability and AI. No matter the data type, workload, or environment, with NetApp you can transform your data infrastructure to realize your business possibilities. Learn more at www.netapp.com or follow us on X, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

NETAPP, the NETAPP logo, and the marks listed at www.netapp.com/TM are trademarks of NetApp, Inc. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240611501973/en/

Media Contact:

Kenya Hayes

NetApp

kenya.hayes@netapp.com

Investor Contact:

Kris Newton

NetApp

kris.newton@netapp.com

Source: NetApp

FAQ

Who is the new Vice President of U.S. Enterprise Sales at NetApp?

The new Vice President of U.S. Enterprise Sales at NetApp is Mike Sakalas.

What is Mike Sakalas' previous experience?

Mike Sakalas previously served as the Vice President of Enterprise and U.S. Global Sales at Pure Storage and has held leadership positions at EMC and Southern Cross Computer Systems.

What will Mike Sakalas' role entail at NetApp?

Mike Sakalas will develop and execute NetApp's U.S. enterprise strategy and enhance customer engagements.

Who will Mike Sakalas report to in his new role at NetApp?

Mike Sakalas will report to Riccardo Di Blasio, Senior Vice President of North America Sales.

How does NetApp plan to drive growth with this new appointment?

NetApp plans to drive growth by leveraging Mike Sakalas' extensive experience and strategic approach to enhance customer success and enterprise strategy in the U.S.