Management Team
Michael S. Bennett
President and Chief Executive Officer
Michael S. Bennett is chief executive officer and president of SolarWinds, a leader in network management software. A 30-year veteran in the network and systems management industry, Michael has successfully led a number of private and public high-tech companies as CEO, including Mission Critical Software until its acquisition by NetIQ Corporation in 2000, Learmonth & Burchett Management Systems and Summagraphics. As a venture partner at Austin Ventures, Michael co-founded AlterPoint in 2001, a leading provider of intelligent network change and configuration management solutions. Most recently, Michael was president and CEO of Permeo Technologies Inc., a leading provider of on-demand information security solutions, from March 2004 until its acquisition by Blue Coat Systems in April 2006. Michael was the recipient of the 2000 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in the communications and software category.
Kevin Thompson
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer
As chief operating officer and chief financial officer, Kevin Thompson brings more than 19 years of corporate finance, strategic planning and management experience to SolarWinds. Most recently, Kevin served as senior vice president and chief financial officer of the SAS Institute, the largest privately held software company in the world. Prior to joining SAS Institute, Kevin was chief financial officer, treasurer, and an executive vice president of Red Hat, the world's leading provider of open source solutions to the enterprise. Prior to Red Hat, Kevin served as a partner in the Global Technology Industry Group of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, where he directed stock offerings and mergers and acquisitions at public and private technology companies.
Kenny Van Zant
Chief Product Strategist
Kenny Van Zant serves as chief product strategist and is responsible for overall product strategy and strategic partnership activities. Prior to SolarWinds, Kenny served as head of Strategy and Corporate Development at Motive, Inc., a leading provider of broadband management software. Kenny joined Motive following its merger with BroadJump in 2003. Prior to Motive, Kenny co-founded BroadJump in 1998, and served as its COO. Previously, Van Zant was responsible for the technical direction and strategy for Broadband sales in the United States for Cisco Systems.
Karen White
Vice President, Corporate and Business Development
Karen White is vice president of corporate and business development and brings more than 20 years of technology industry experience to her role. Most recently, she was Managing Director at Pequot Ventures, an investment firm with nearly $2 billion in capital commitments. Karen focused on information technology investments in Silicon Valley. Previously, Karen was senior vice president with Oracle Corp. In her seven years at Oracle, she held a variety of executive positions, including senior vice president of worldwide marketing and business development. Prior to Oracle, Karen was CEO of Egis, Inc., an international services firm focused on networking technologies.
Doug Hibberd
Vice President, Product Development
Doug Hibberd serves as vice president of Product Development. Prior to SolarWinds, Doug was vice president, Engineering at RealVue Simulation Technologies, Inc., a provider of custom simulation software to the commercial industrial and manufacturing sector. Prior to RealVue Simulation Technologies Inc., Doug was vice president, Engineering at ForwardVue Technologies Inc., the leading provider of supply chain risk management software and services. Doug also held executive positions at FreeMarkets, iMark.com, EnFlex Corporation and Trilogy Software.
Rita Selvaggi
Vice President, Marketing
With more than 20 years of technology marketing and sales experience, Rita Selvaggi has proven expertise in building ground floor sales and marketing organizations. Prior to SolarWinds, Rita was vice president of Marketing and Business Development at Permeo Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of remote access VPN solutions for the enterprise. Prior to Permeo Technologies, Inc., Rita was vice president of Business Development for 724 Solutions, a pioneer in secure, scalable wireless transaction software. She was a member of the executive team at TANTAU Software, acquired by 724 Solutions in 2001, where she was instrumental in defining and executing the company's successful market entry strategy. Rita has also held senior management positions in sales and industry marketing at pcOrder (now Trilogy Software), VTEL and IBM.
Paul Strelzick
Vice President Worldwide Sales
Paul Strelzick serves as vice president of worldwide sales. Paul has 20 years experience in network and systems management holding executive/management positions with both small venture-backed start-ups as well as large public companies. Prior to SolarWinds Paul ran worldwide sales for Austin, TX-based start-ups MessageOne and Permeo Technologies. Previously, Paul was vice president of North American sales at NetIQ, the leading provider of Windows-based systems and security management solutions, where he helped guide the company to a successful IPO and mergers with Mission Critical Software, Webtrends and Pentasafe. Paul has served in senior sales management roles at Legato Systems, Compuware Corporation and Computer Associates.
Jim Docherty
Vice President International Sales
Docherty is responsible for expanding SolarWinds presence in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Asia Pacific and China (APAC). Before SolarWinds, Docherty was vice president, EMEA sales at Scalix, he also developed NetIQ's EMEA business from $0, growing it to an annualized turnover of $30 million, as vice president, EMEA Sales. Docherty has also held management positions in sales and business development within Microsoft Ltd., was Managing Director of the International Computer Group, a Paris based network of resellers in over 40 countries (now operating as Computacenter), and was Regional Director for Computacenter in Scotland.
Bryan Sims
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
As vice president, general counsel and secretary, Bryan Sims is responsible for all legal matters affecting SolarWinds throughout the world, including intellectual property and licensing. Prior to SolarWinds, Bryan worked with Squire Sanders and Dempsey, a law firm with offices and attorneys in all major business markets around the world. At Squire, Bryan focused on intellectual property and corporate transactional matters. Previously, Mr. Sims served as a Vice President at Red Hat, Inc., where he was responsible for negotiating alliances, as well as mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and partnerships. He also assisted with the development of Red Hat's intellectual property strategy, and created and ran the group responsible for legal and business negotiations associated with global partnership and customer relationship contracts. Bryan is a graduate of Howard University and The Ohio State University College of Law.
Bart Kalsu
Vice President, Finance
Bart Kalsu serves as Vice President, Finance and is responsible for the global accounting and finance functions. Prior to Solarwinds, Bart worked as a Commercial Banker for JPMorgan Chase where he was the lead relationship manager for both public and private companies. Bart also worked at Red Hat as Senior Director of Finance and was responsible at different times for the accounting, budgeting and tax functions. Prior to Red Hat, Bart was a Senior Manager in the audit and assurance practice for Andersen LLP.
Board of Directors
Steven Cakebread, CFO, Salesforce.com
Jeffrey Horing, Managing Director, Insight Venture Partners
Bobby L. Martin, Independent Business Consultant
Benjamin Nye, Managing Director, Bain Capital Ventures
John Thornton, General Partner, Austin Ventures
Michael S. Bennett, CEO and President
Don Yonce, Founder
Investors
Bain Capital Ventures
Bain Capital Ventures is the Boston-based venture capital arm of Bain Capital, whose affiliates manage over $40 billion of assets. Founded in 1984, Bain Capital and its affiliates have invested in over 230 companies with such notable successes as Doubleclick, Gartner Group and Staples. Our history of investing in early stage companies also dates back to 1984, having made over 105 venture-stage investments since inception. In 2001, Bain Capital Ventures was formed as a separate arm of Bain Capital to focus exclusively on growth investments. Bain Capital Ventures currently has $600 million under management.
Insight Venture Partners
Insight Venture Partners has raised over $2 billion in capital to invest in leading software, technology and Internet services companies. Headquartered in New York, Insight takes a global approach to investing, providing hands-on execution and strategic advice derived from the Firm's cumulative experience working and building successful software companies. Insight was founded in 1995 and has a heritage of creating long-term value for all stakeholders in expansion stage and mid-market buyout transactions. For additional information, visit the Firm's website at www.insightpartners.com.
Austin Ventures
With $3 billion under management across nine funds, Austin Ventures has provided startup and growth capital to emerging companies for over twenty years. We partner with exceptionally talented entrepreneurs and operating executives to build valuable businesses in a variety of technology and service industries. We invest nationally but maintain a particular focus on Texas and the Southwest, where we are the region's most active investor. Our team of investment professionals works with companies at every stage of the funding lifecycle, from initial seed investments, through startup and growth capital, to management-led buyouts and recapitalizations. Austin Ventures brings a long-term investment perspective, broad experience in building high-growth companies, and access to an unparalleled network of entrepreneurs and executives. Visit austinventures.com for more information.