Avaya has announced that Alan Masarek, President and CEO, will retire at the end of this year. Patrick Dennis, currently the Chair of Avaya’s Board of Directors, will step into the CEO role.
Patrick Dennis brings three decades of experience and a proven track record in leading transformational change across Enterprise Software, SaaS, Cybersecurity, and Communications companies. He is currently the CEO of Venafi, a cybersecurity company undergoing acquisition by CyberArk, where he has driven innovation, growth, and customer success.
“I am honored and thrilled to lead Avaya on the next phase of its journey building on the solid foundation laid by Alan and the leadership team. Avaya is now operating from a position of financial strength and industry leadership, and our strategy is resonating with customers around the world who can be confident in Avaya’s consistency in strategic direction and commitment to deliver for their long-term success. I look forward to working with the team to accelerate Avaya’s market momentum,” said Mr. Dennis.
Speaking of changes in the leadership team, Avaya has recently appointed Kamilah Thomas as the new Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer (CPO).
Before joining Venafi, Dennis was the CEO of ExtraHop, nearly doubling the company’s size and earning industry recognition for its leadership in Artificial Intelligence. He also served as CEO of Aspect Communications (now Alvaria), and Guidance Software, and held leadership roles at EMC and Oracle Corporation.
Masarek’s retirement follows a successful transformation of Avaya over the past eight quarters, which has set the stage for the company's continued innovation and growth, solidifying its position as a leader in Enterprise CX. Dennis has been a close partner with Masarek and the leadership team in crafting Avaya’s strategic direction and growth plans since he became Chair of the Board following the company’s recapitalization in May 2023.
