In a move that VMware is calling a "regular workforce rebalancing," over 200 employees were laid-off over the last month – including four senior executives. Most of the layoffs occurred in the firm’s Palo Alto location while the rest worked remotely.
In an email statement, spokesperson Michael Thacker explained that the reallocation of workers "ensures resources across VMware's global businesses and geographies aligned with strategic objectives and customer needs.” He stated that VMware was looking to place some workers into other jobs within the firm.
One of the top execs leaving the firm was global chief customer officer Scott Bajtos. He spent eleven years with VMware first as SVP of global support services and advocacy before moving into the CCO role in 2016. His team oversaw customer success, technical support, professional services support, and customer advocacy. Before his work with the cloud computing and virtualization software firm, Bajtos held executive vice president positions with SAP. He was educated at Saint Mary's College of California where he received his BA in management.
Another leader moving on from VMware is Alexa Erjavic, senior director of global services strategy for the company. She started with the company in 2016 as senior director of global services operations until she transitioned over to the strategy portfolio a year prior. Erjavic is educated as an electrical engineer and started her career as a sales representative with Cadence Design Systems before beginning as a consultant for software support and renewals.
Mark Ritacco will also be finishing up with his role as vice president of operations and customer intelligence. Ritacco started his career with VMware a decade ago, where he worked his way up through the ranks until becoming VP. The former VP also spent two years with SAP Business Objects, first as an analyst and then as a senior director. He received a degree in international politics from Georgetown University in 1994 and an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management in 1998.
Kate Woodcock served as VMware’s vice president of customer advocacy until her recent departure. Prior to moving on, Woodcock led a team that interfaced with senior management regarding areas for improvement. She spent eight years with the cloud computing company and was promoted from director to senior director in 2014 and VP in 2018.
The Dell-owned company currently employs 24,000 people worldwide, and the cutbacks come as it begins to integrate the tech-staff and product people it brought on through its acquisition of cloud-based hosting company Pivotal last year. The company has been going through a process of growth and expansion in recent months after purchasing ten new companies over the previous year. More layoffs may be in the future as VMware works to amalgamate these businesses more fully into its operations.
