Voccola’s role change comes at a critical time for the self-described leading provider of AI-powered cybersecurity and IT management software as the company is reportedly preparing for an IPO. He was one of the longest-serving CEOs in the MSP industry, a Channel Futures Influencer of the Year in 2024 and his acquisition of Datto accelerated Kaseya’s to $1.5 billion in annual recurring. Voccolo’s background prior to Kaseya was one of building, buying and selling companies.
No doubt, Voccola will be remembered as one of the most impactful CEOs who reshaped the managed services landscape. He was also bold enough to elevate Kaseya’s brand in its home base in Miami and nationally by paying some $117 million for the naming rights to the Miami Heat bayfront area that includes the arena where the NBA team plays, according to the Miami Herald. Here is the Miami Herald coverage of the Kaseya management change.
There are three key pieces of information to know about Voccola’s new role and the circumstances behind the move. The changes at Kaseya will no doubt be discussed in detail at the upcoming MSP Summit held at the Channel Partners Conference in Las Vegas this March. Register for the MSP Summit.
First, Voccola stated that Kasya is coming off the strongest quarter and year in its history, so “now is the right time for me to step up into the role of Vice Chairman and hand over operating responsibilities to a new CEO.” His following statement had more of an air of an exit comment which raised some eyebrows. “It has been the honor of my professional life to lead Kaseya and work alongside the talented team that has driven our success.”
Second, according to Mike Triplett, managing director of Insight Partners and Kaseya’s main private equity backer that led the Datto acquisition, “Fred’s transition to Vice Chairman will enable him to focus on the long-range innovation and go-to-market strategies that will ensure Kaseya’s long-term success and prepare the company for a potential IPO.”
Finally, Kaseya board member Kevin Thompson will play a key role in the transition, working closely with Voccola to identify the company’s next CEO. Thompson added in a statement, “Kaseya’s future is incredibly bright, and I’m excited to work with Fred and the board to identify a new leader who will guide the company through this transformative period.”
Kaseya's Collection of MSP Brands
Under Voccola’s leadership, the company has assembled an amazing collection of brands MSPs rely on. These include Datto, IT Glue, RapidFire Tools, ID Agent, TruMethods and many others including a reported investment in Robbin Robbins Technology Marketing Toolkit as discussed in Reddit forums.
Over the past two years, we had the opportunity to interview Voccola on stage at the MSP Summit. These wide-ranging discussions covered his outlook for the industry, advice to partners, Kaseya’s future and the critical role MSPs play in the U.S. economy. During the 2024 MSP Summit last September, Channel Partners asked Voccola about the company’s next big move in terms of M&A, and he talked about a possible IPO to raise money to fuel the next phase of growth. He also said the company’s launch of Kaseya 365, a unified set of IT management tools, was exceeding expectations.
He gave no indication during the interview that he planned to take on a different role or slow down the torrid pace he set for himself and the company. But, as many know in the channel, things can change fast. In fewer than four months since that interview, Voccola is transitioning to pave the way for a new CEO’s vision and stewardship during a time when the company is likely to go public.
Channel Partners received this statement from Xavier Gonzalez, chief communications officer of Kaseya regarding the upcoming CEO search: “Given Kaseya’s amazing performance in 2024 – fueled by the launch of Kaseya 365 – the board, working with Fred, will be looking for Kaseya’s next CEO to continue the strong positive momentum and effectively run the daily operations of the company as we continue on the path toward the next major milestones and beyond, including a potential public offering. The CEO will report into the board [as Fred has].”
As with many of Voccola’s prior moves, his sudden resignation as CEO drew a lot of reaction on Reddit.
