Pica8 hired two familiar software and networking industry veterans. Kelly LeBlanc has been appointed as chief marketing officer, and Mike Hoffman has been hired as chief revenue officer. These hires follow on the heels of its recent Series C funding of more than $20 million.
Pica8 is a computer networking company based in Silicon Valley that markets Linux-based network operating systems on white-box switches. It’s going after businesses that are looking for networking software alternatives to Cisco.
LeBlanc has 25 years of marketing leadership in Silicon Valley. Most recently she was chief marketing officer of 6WIND where she managed global marketing and business development for the company’s transition to vRouter solutions. Prior to 6WIND, LeBlanc was the head of worldwide marketing for A10 Networks when the company became the fastest-growing Silicon Valley networking company prior to its IPO. She also held corporate communications positions at Fortinet and VERITAS Software.
Hoffman has more than 30 years of experience in sales leadership. He was chief revenue officer and senior vice president of global sales at Aryaka. Hoffman was also chief revenue officer for Big Switch Networks, where he lead the company to six record-breaking quarters and doubled its revenues. Previously, he was vice president of worldwide sales at Gigamon.
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“We are excited to have Kelly and Mike join our executive leadership team as we enter this rapid growth phase,” said James Liao, founder and CEO of Pica8, in a statement. “Both have success in building brand name networking companies from various startup stages to mature organizations.”
Alternative to Cisco
Pica8 says that its AmpCon Controller and PicOS Software Switches can displace Cisco DNA Center and Catalyst switches in enterprise campus and access networks, upgrading to open networking software on white box hardware. Pica8 software has complete interoperability with existing Cisco infrastructure.
The company says that in 2017 a top 3 telecom provider with more than 4,000 stores in the U.S. started replacing some 5,000 Cisco Catalyst switches in its stores with Pica8’s PicOS software switches. The company is saving about 50% in capital and support costs.