Microsoft veteran Dodds defects to VMware

Scott Dodds understood to have replaced Andy Hunt in EMEA channel leadership role

Long-standing Microsoft channel man Scott Dodds has jumped ship to rival VMware, CRN understands.

VMware was unavailable to comment on the move, but according to Dodds' LinkedIn page, he began working at the virtualisation giant last week as its EMEA vice president of channels and alliances. It is understood Dodds (pictured) takes over from former EMEA vice president for partners and general business Andy Hunt, who stood down last September.

Dodds held a variety of channel-facing roles at Microsoft for more than 10 years, most recently as general manager for its Small to Midmarket Solutions and Partners (SMS&P) division for Western Europe.

Over the past decade he held a number of other roles at the vendor including general manager of SMS&P and general manager of UK business strategy, according to his LinkedIn page. Prior to that, between 1999 and 2003 – the year he joined Microsoft – he was Acer's UK managing director.

VMware's channel team has undergone a period of change over the past few months.

Last April, the firm's UK head of channel Ed Dolman left his role to become the company's head of enterprise sales. He was replaced by Phil Croxford in September.

Microsoft and VMware are fierce rivals in the virtualisation space and last summer at the former's Worldwide Partner Conference, chief operating officer Kevin Turner boldly claimed his firm had "eaten VMware's lunch" in the market.

Neither VMware nor Microsoft were available to comment at the time of first publication.