VAST Data Strengthens Leadership Team in Response to Soaring Demand

VAST Data, the pioneering AI data platform company, has announced a significant expansion of its leadership team to harness the explosive growth in the market.

Marianne Budnik has been appointed as VAST’s Chief Marketing Officer and will take charge of all marketing functions, including product marketing, field marketing, customer advocacy, communications and public relations, content creation, creative direction, and brand strategy. Budnik brings a wealth of experience as a successful marketing leader, having held prominent roles at companies like CrowdStrike, CyberArk, CA Technologies, and a decade-long tenure in marketing leadership positions at EMC Corporation.

Budnik will collaborate closely with VAST Data’s co-founder, Jeff Denworth, who will retain his responsibilities in guiding the company’s product and commercial strategies. Denworth will continue to work closely with VAST’s most strategic clients and partners to leverage the potential of AI-driven transformation, positioning the company to capitalize on market momentum and achieve its ambitious growth objectives.

In addition, Stacey Cast has been appointed as Vice President of Global Operations, overseeing VAST’s operational processes to ensure product quality and efficient delivery. Cast brings a wealth of experience in the technology sector, having recently served as Senior Vice President of Business Operations at H2O.ai, and holding similar positions at high-performing organizations such as SentinelOne, Cohesity, Nimble Storage, and NetApp.

Budnik, Cast, and Denworth will all report directly to CEO Renen Hallak.

“I am thrilled to welcome these accomplished experts to our leadership team as we expand our market presence and realize our vision,” said Renen Hallak, CEO and co-founder of VAST Data. “With Marianne and Stacey joining our ranks, and with Jeff focusing more on our customer interactions, we are well-prepared for the next phase of our company’s growth.”

“I’m honored to be part of the VAST Data team as we scale our innovation agenda to drive the next wave of AI and high-performance computing,” commented Marianne Budnik, Chief Marketing Officer.

“I am excited to contribute to what VAST Data is building,” said Stacey Cast, Vice President of Global Operations at VAST Data. “This presents a unique opportunity at precisely the right moment to enhance our structure and processes for greater efficiency and scalability.”