At Avaya, contact is not enough. It’s about connection.

Soren Abildgaard is Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Avaya. Soren has more than two decades of experience in global software development and engineering at high-growth SaaS companies, with international experience leading cross-functional teams to create and bring software products to market.

He brings to Avaya his strong focus and deep expertise in delivering platforms and products that enable customers to design and deliver great digital experiences. Soren came to Avaya from Contentful where he was EVP of Engineering. Under his leadership, he scaled the Contentful Platform to service many of the world’s largest brands. He also served as EVP of Engineering at Zendesk, where his team enabled growth in excess of $1B. Prior to Zendesk, Soren was VP of Engineering at Adobe’s Advertising Cloud (through the acquisition of TubeMogul, where he led engineering). He has held senior product development positions at several companies including Autodesk and Microsoft.

Soren has a Master of Science in Engineering from Technical University in Denmark.

David Austin is Senior Vice President Corporate Development, Strategy and Alliances.  David is responsible for developing the company’s overall strategy for business operations and manages multiple strategic functions including corporate development, technology innovation and business alliances along with serving as Chief of Staff to the CEO.  David joined Avaya from Xeeva, Inc. a leader in cloud eProcurement, where he served as its Chief Operating Officer.  Previously, David worked in the advisory practice at PwC and prior to that he was co-founder of Contextware, Inc. an award winning business process and knowledge management software company.  He has held multiple management roles at Manugistics, Visteon and MCI Communications.   David earned his Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Masters in International Business and Transactions both from George Mason University.

As CEO of Avaya, Patrick Dennis brings 30 years of experience and a proven track record of transformational leadership in Enterprise Software, SaaS, Cybersecurity, and Communications. With Avaya firmly positioned as a leader in Enterprise CX, Patrick is committed to driving the company’s go-forward strategy centered around innovation, long-term growth, and meeting the evolving needs of its customers.
Most recently, as CEO of Venafi, he drove company-wide strategy with a focus on innovation and growth, leading the company’s sale to CyberArk for $1.5B. Prior to Venafi, Patrick served as CEO of ExtraHop, where he nearly doubled the company’s size and earned industry accolades for its thought leadership in Artificial Intelligence. He also served as CEO of Aspect Communications (now known as Alvaria) and Guidance Software. Additionally, he held multiple senior leadership roles at both EMC and Oracle Corporation, where he contributed to strategic initiatives and operational excellence.
Patrick holds a B.S. in Information Technology from the Rochester Institute of Technology and is an active contributor to the Forbes Technology Council. He was formerly the Chairman of the Board at Avaya, where he provided strategic guidance and leadership. Currently, Patrick serves as Chairman at Ripcord, continuing to influence and drive success in the technology sector.

John Hoffman is the Chief People Officer at Avaya, bringing over 20 years of expertise in building high-performance teams that drive organizational success in the fast-paced tech sector. Known for his people-centric approach, John has led teams in talent acquisition, employee development, and cultural initiatives at leading technology companies, including ExtraHop, EMC, Oracle, Guidance Software, and Alvaria, Inc.

Before joining Avaya, John served as CPO at ExtraHop, where he fostered a culture of creativity and excellence. He was also Chief People and Productivity Officer at Alvaria, Inc., a leader in customer experience and workforce engagement. At Guidance Software, John managed Field Shared Services and Professional Services, building strong teams in a specialized tech environment.

John holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Political Science from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and a Master’s in Psychology from the University of Virginia.

Pete Lavache is the Chief Marketing Officer at Avaya, bringing over 25 years of experience in marketing and product strategy within high-tech industries. Pete has held leadership roles at companies including EMC, Dell, Venafi, ExtraHop, and Aspect Software (now Alvaria, Inc.), where he led teams across marketing, product, and operations.

Before Avaya, Pete served as CMO at Venafi, a CyberArk company, and ExtraHop, specializing in solutions for machine identity and network security. At Aspect, Pete served as SVP of Product and Program Management, where he helped drive the transformation efforts that contributed to its $1B acquisition by Abry Partners in 2021.

Pete holds a B.S. in Business Management & Information Systems and an MBA, both from Plymouth State University in New Hampshire.

MaryLou (ML) Maco is the Chief Revenue Officer and Chief Experience Officer at Avaya, leading the charge in transforming customer and employee experiences to drive unparalleled business growth. Her bold vision and persuasive leadership are pivotal in steering Avaya, a global leader in Unified Communications, into a new era of innovation and success. With over 25 years of expertise in go-to-market strategy, sales channels, customer success, and field operations at high-growth software and cloud companies, ML is deeply committed to delivering transformative growth and exceptional customer experiences.

As a member of the Avaya Board of Directors, ML brings invaluable strategic insight, aligning people, processes, and technology to create a unified revenue engine that advances customer success and growth. Her extensive experience in global leadership roles at industry giants such as Genesys, Cisco, Oracle, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and Anaplan has equipped her with a deep understanding of enterprise software, cloud services, and network computing. Throughout her career, she has consistently driven predictable revenue growth, expanded market share, and fostered customer and partner loyalty.

Recognized as a trusted thought leader, ML frequently shares her insights on cloud business strategies, digital transformations, and industry trends at conferences worldwide. Her influence and years of experience are propelling a new generation of growth at Avaya, embodying the company’s philosophy that combining Customer Experience with Employee Experience leads to business growth.

Danielle Marino is the General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Avaya, bringing extensive experience in corporate law and litigation as well as global labor and employment experience. Danielle has held various leadership roles in the legal organizations at both ITT Inc. and Avaya, including the head of global employment and litigation and the head of the ethics and compliance team. She also served as the assistant corporate secretary at both companies.  

Before Avaya, Danielle served as Senior Corporate Counsel and Assistant Secretary at ITT Inc., a highly engineered manufacturing company specializing in industries such as infrastructure, transportation and connectivity. She successfully lead the internal reorganization of ITT and stood up a new public parent company as well as several transformation projects in relation to personnel and subsidiary management.  

Danielle graduated Magma Cum Laude from St. Joseph’s University with a B.A. in English Literature and a Juris Doctorate from Pace School of Law.

Al Morales is the Chief Transformation Officer at Avaya. He brings more than 30 years of global leadership experience in finance, business transformation, controllership, pricing, contracting, and policy. Morales has successfully lead company-wide transformation programs focused on enabling business excellence and innovation. He has held leadership roles at organizations such as PwC, TD SYNNEX, Tech Data, AmerisourceBergen, and AT&T, and most recently served as the Chief Transformation Officer at automotive supplier Tenneco.

Al is a Certified Public Accountant and obtained his bachelor’s degree in accounting and master of science, taxation, from Florida International University.

Sherri Moyen is the Chief Financial Officer at Avaya, bringing over 25 years of global financial experience and leadership from her previous roles at both private and public companies. Sherri has led M&A activities and raised capital during her tenure as CFO at several companies, including Overhaul Group Inc., Conductor, and Aspect Software (now Alvaria, Inc.).

Before Avaya, Sherri spent over a decade of her career working at Aspect, where she ultimately became CFO, helping drive the transformation efforts that contributed to its $1B acquisition by Abry Partners in 2021.

Sherri holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Fitchburg State University and an MBA from Nichols College.