Avaya has announced that its CEO, Alan Masarek, will retire, and the current Chair of the Board of Directors, Patrick Dennis, will assume the role.

Former Vonage CEO Masarek is stepping down almost precisely two years after he first took up the role on August 1, 2022. He came out of retirement to oversee Avaya’s recovery process following its financial difficulties during its cloud transition. Avaya described his eight-quarter stewardship of the business as a “successful transformation”. Masarek ” set Avaya’s ongoing strategic plan for innovation and growth, and firmly positioning the company as a leader in Enterprise CX”.

“Two years ago, I came out of retirement to help lead Avaya forward, knowing that the company’s opportunity was extremely profound: terrific technology underpinning an enormous customer base, a massive ecosystem of partners, a large revenue base, and an iconic technology brand,” Masarek said.

Working closely with Avaya’s executive leadership team, the Board, our employees, customers and partners has been an immeasurably rewarding experience, and I’m proud of what we have all accomplished together to put Avaya on a strong and steady course for further success. And, while there is certainly more to do, Avaya’s new position of strength combined with Patrick’s unique ability to lead the company creates an opportunity for me to return to retirement.”

Over the last two years, Avaya has fulfilled a financial restructuring in response to its Chapter 11 bankruptcy and redefined its customer value proposition and brand identity. Following this, the company has undertaken a comprehensive operational overhaul across all departments, focusing on rejuvenating its corporate culture. This theory of renewal is supported by significant C-Suite change and new talent across the organisation.

Avaya added that it has also been advancing its cloud comms solutions and services, notably with the Avaya Experience Platform. The company iterates that it’s met its product development milestones and is positioning itself as a frontrunner in the Enterprise Customer Experience sector.

Masarek will retire by the end of the calendar year, while Dennis will formally begin his new role on September 1, 2024.

“I am honoured and thrilled to lead Avaya on the next phase of its journey, building on the solid foundation laid by Alan and the leadership team,” said Dennis. “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.”

More Specifics On Dennis’s Journey

Avaya stresses that Dennis brings a wealth of experience spanning 30 years, which is marked by crucial leadership across various sectors, including Enterprise Software, SaaS, Cybersecurity, and Communications.

As the current CEO of Venafi, a cybersecurity firm in the acquisition process by CyberArk, Dennis is credited with being instrumental in driving innovation, growth, and customer success. His tenure at Venafi follows a successful period as CEO of ExtraHop, where he oversaw significant growth and the company’s recognition for its thought leadership in AI.

Avaya added that Dennis’s leadership experience extends to his time as CEO of Aspect Communications (now Alvaria) and Guidance Software, and he holds multiple leadership roles at EMC and Oracle Corporation.

In May 2023, Dennis took on the role of Chair of the Avaya Board, coinciding with the company’s emergence from recapitalisation. Avaya suggests he has worked closely with Masarek and the leadership team to shape Avaya’s strategic and growth plans to ensure a seamless succession aligned with a shared vision for Avaya’s strategic direction.

Avaya’s 14 Months Of C-Suite Change

Ahead of last year’s Avaya Engage, Avaya announced three critical C-Suite hires — Amy O’Keefe as its new Chief Financial Officer, Omar Javaid as its new Chief Product Officer, and Josh Mueller as its new Chief Marketing Officer.

Perhaps Avaya’s most essential hire was CFO O’Keefe, who brought 30 years of financial expertise and a proven track record to the company. Before joining Avaya, O’Keefe served as CFO of WW International (formerly Weight Watchers International), where she played a vital role in the company’s rationalisation and realignment strategy.

Meanwhile, in November, Avaya confirmed Soren Abildgaard as its new Chief Technology Officer and Marylou “ML” Maco as its new Chief Revenue and Customer Experience Officer.

Only last week, Avaya‘s C-Suite shakeup continued with the appointment of Kamilah Thomas as its new Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer.



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