Google Cloud poaches top execs from Microsoft, Salesforce and SAP

Vendor giant appoints new regional directors across UK and Ireland, Southern Europe, Nordics and DACH regions

Google Cloud has hired four new directors across the EMEA market to support its growing customer base within the region.

The vendor previously announced that former Salesforce chief, Pip White, has become its new head of the UK and Ireland.

White's appointment has now been followed by three more regional appointments across EMEA.

Daniel Holz has been appointed as Google Cloud's head of the DACH and Nordics. Holz moves to Google after a 12-year stint at SAP where he most recently served as MD of Germany. The new VP's former employers also includes Oracle and IBM.

Meanwhile, another former long-time Salesforce exec, Samuel Bonamigo has been drafted in to Google Cloud where he will become VP of its Southern Europe region which comprises Benelux, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal.

Bonamigo has spent more than 10 years at Salesforce and was previously SVP and deputy general manager of its business in France.

Finally, Laurence Lafont has joined Google Cloud as vice president of EMEA industries outside of France. She moves to her new employer after eight years at Microsoft where she was COO of its French business.

Lafont is tasked with driving and supporting customer digital transformation and growing new industry sales teams in the EMEA market.

The vendor added that long-time Google exec Benjamin Faes will continue as managing director for central and eastern Europe, Israel, the Middle East and Africa.

Google Cloud's president of EMEA, Chris Ciauri, said that the new appointments come as the vendor lands some big customer wins across the region, including firms such as telecom Italia, Renault, Lufthansa and Deutsche Bank.

"Over the past year, we have seen strong customer momentum through a number of significant customer wins," said Ciauri.

"Today, many leading brands in Europe, the Middle East and Africa are turning to us to help them digitally transform, streamline and reinvent their business models. Pip, Laurence, Daniel, and Samuel join us at a time of significant growth as we continue to evolve our business to further strengthen our go-to-market and front-line support for customers and partners across the region."

The latest batch of execs through the door come after high profile appointments from the likes of Oracle and Cisco.

Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian joined from Oracle, will Cisco's global channel boss Nirav Sheth came in to head up partner sales.