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Rory Read
Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Vonage
Professional Background
Rory Read stands out as a pivotal figure in the technology and cloud communications landscape, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Vonage. Vonage is recognized as a global leader in cloud communications, assisting businesses worldwide in accelerating their digital transformation. In his capacity as CEO, Rory is dedicated to steering Vonage towards its ambitious future, emphasizing the execution of its strategic vision to evolve into a premier Business Software as a Service (SaaS) provider. His extensive experience across various leadership roles in top-tier technology companies equips him with a profound understanding of the industry and a strategic mindset, which he utilizes to drive innovation and foster growth within Vonage.
Prior to joining Vonage, Rory held the prestigious position of Chief Operating Executive at Dell, where he leveraged his operational expertise and executive leadership to meet critical business transformations. As the President and CEO of Virtustream, he played an integral role in discerning the strategic direction of the organization, advocating for excellence in business execution, and enhancing Virtustream's esteemed position as a leading partner for mission-critical cloud services and software solutions. His relentless focus on customer satisfaction empowered him to significantly expand Virtustream's clientele, involving enterprises, strategic service providers, and healthcare entities worldwide navigating their multi-cloud and IT modernization journeys.
Rory further served as the Executive Vice President at Dell Technologies Boomi, a robust SaaS integration platform provider, where he noticeably propelled hyper-growth and market share gains in this vital segment of the integration platform industry.
His career has also been marked by transformative leadership roles at Dell Technologies. As the Chief Integration Officer, he adeptly managed the historic September 2016 merger of Dell and EMC, which resulted in the formation of the largest privately controlled technology company globally. His tenure as Chief Operating Officer at Dell EMC allowed him to take charge of strategy, planning, operations, and spearheading key transformative initiatives. Rory’s leadership prowess further shined during his time as the President of Worldwide Commercial Sales, where he cultivated a highly skilled sales engine at Dell and delineated the strategies underpinning Dell’s global channel, partner, and direct sales efforts.
With an impressive 30 years of experience in the global technology sector, Rory's journey has seen him excel in strategic roles that have greatly influenced industry standards and practices. Before his influential roles at Dell, he served as the Chief Executive Officer, President, and a key member of the Board of Directors at Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). His strategic initiatives during his AMD leadership highlighted a diversification of the company's portfolio, creating $2 billion in revenue from newly developed businesses, launching the innovative Zen chip architecture, and restructuring AMD's debt profile to achieve profitability once again.
Additionally, Rory's tenure as Chief Operating Officer and President at Lenovo showcased his ability to drive growth, execution, and performance within a vast Global 500 enterprise operating across more than 160 nations. He further solidified his expertise during his extensive 23-year career with IBM, where he held a series of influential leadership positions.
Education and Achievements
Rory Read graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor's Degree in Management Information Systems and Services from Hartwick College. His educational achievements, compounded with extensive professional experiences, have equipped him with a well-rounded skill set that is instrumental in navigating the complex landscape of the technology sector.
Over his illustrious career, Rory has garnered a reputation for driving strategic growth and transformation in every organization he has been part of, making notable contributions that have significantly shaped company trajectories and industry standards. His leadership philosophy emphasizes a customer-centric approach, advocating for innovation, and nurturing talent within his teams.
Achievements
Rory Read's achievements are numerous and diverse, reflecting his proficiency in leadership and strategic direction. As CEO of Vonage, he is championing the company's growth and directing its transition into a leading Business SaaS provider, which positions Vonage favorably as digital transformation continues to evolve globally.
While at Virtustream, Rory successfully drove the company to become a well-respected player in the cloud services arena, emphasizing mission-critical solutions that cater to a wide array of sectors. Moreover, his role in the amalgamation of Dell and EMC is noted as a landmark event in the industry, showcasing his adeptness at managing large-scale integrations and transformations within the tech sector.
Rory's tenure at AMD was equally pivotal. He not only diversified the business streams but also launched the next-gen Zen chip architecture, which played a crucial role in revamping AMD's technological capabilities in the semiconductor industry. Overall, Rory Read’s extensive background, highlighted by his executive roles and transformative successes, mark him as a distinguished leader in today’s tech landscape.
