Datto VP unsure if it will keep Autotask brand in post-merger plans

Datto-Autotask merger completed earlier this week, after being announced in October

Datto is unsure if it will keep the Autotask brand name after completing its mega merger, according to VP Patrick Burns.

Vista Equity Partners completed its acquisition of data protection vendor Datto earlier this week, merging it with business management vendor Autotask.

The newly formed business will operate under the Datto name, with Datto CEO Austin McChord at the helm.

Burns, who joined the Datto executive team from Autotask, told CRN that the vendor is currently undecided as to whether or not the Autotask brand will play a part in the company's future.

"The name of the company will be Datto; we can only have one name and it's a great brand," he said.

"There has absolutely not been a decision to discontinue the Autotask brand. You could make some reasonable arguments that it's a really strong brand for the PSA (professional services automation) product and it wouldn't surprise me if we continued to carry that on, but that decision hasn't been made yet."

The Datto-Autotask merger was first announced in October, with Autotask SVP Mark Banfield telling CRN that partners could expect a pain-free integration of the two vendors.

Speaking after the deal's completion, Banfield said the two organisations have worked quickly to merge the departments of each business.

"On my side I've been focused on the go-to-market and starting to build out a strategy of how we bring the sales and marketing, and business development organisations together.

"Our real focus is entirely on how we add the most of our value quickly to the joint customer base that we have and cause no disruption.

"It's still ongoing - we don't have any concrete things to speak about yet, but I think it will benefit our joint channel customers and the MSPs it will serve. I think they'll find they will get more specialisation and more support."