VMware Names Karen Dykstra as CFO; Zane Rowe to Depart Company

VMware (NYSE: VMW), a leading innovator in enterprise software, today announced that Karen Dykstra will take on the role as chief financial officer and executive vice president in addition to her current role as a member of the VMware Board of Directors. Current VMware CFO and EVP Zane Rowe will be leaving the company, effective June 9, 2023.

“I am thrilled to have Karen take on the role of CFO where we will benefit from her robust experience as a VMware Board Member and former CFO as well as her business acumen and leadership skills,” said Raghu Raghuram, VMware CEO. “On behalf of the Board of Directors and the VMware team, I’d like to thank Zane for his numerous accomplishments and leadership since joining VMware in 2016, especially for his efforts in helping to transform the company to a Subscription and SaaS model to better serve our customers.”

“Having been a member of the VMware Board since 2016, I am pleased to now take on the CFO role and work even more closely with the executive team and company,” commented Karen Dykstra. “VMware’s focus on helping its customers navigate this multi-cloud era, its tremendous innovation engine and its unique culture are all reasons for me to join as CFO and help lead the company.”

Dykstra has substantial financial expertise that includes extensive knowledge of the complex financial and operational issues facing large companies, as well as a deep understanding of accounting principles and financial reporting rules and regulations. As noted, she is currently a member of the Board of Directors of VMware, a role she has held since March 2016. Prior to accepting this role, she was also the Chair of both the Audit Committee and the Nominating, Governance and Related Persons Transactions Committee of the VMware Board.

Additionally, Dykstra previously made a transition from service on a board of directors to CFO while at AOL, Inc., where she served on the AOL board of directors including as the chair of its Audit Committee and then as CFO of AOL. Prior to AOL, Dykstra was a partner of Plainfield Asset Management LLC (“Plainfield”), an asset management company, and she served as CFO and chief operating officer of Plainfield Direct LLC, Plainfield’s business development company. She previously spent over 25 years with Automatic Data Processing, Inc., most recently serving as CFO.