Ray O’Farrell, formerly general manager of VMware‘s software-defined data center division, will assume the combined role of chief technology officer and chief development officer.
The company said Wednesday O’Farrell succeeds Ben Fathi and will be in charge of the CTO team and manage the research and development business units.
“He brings extensive and invaluable experience in managing a wide range of our global R&D teams as well as developing and releasing many of our most impactful products,” said VMware CEOÂ Pat Gelsinger.
O’Farrell, who will continue to report to Gelsinger, joined VMware in 2003 and has led the development of technologies such as VMware ESX.
He has at least 20 years of software engineering and product delivery experience.
He previously worked at Mentor Graphics, Improv Systems and Ashling Microsystems.