Based on the information I have heard so far I have no incentive to stay. I was waiting to see what the divestiture would look like and it’s time to look for a new job. The WFH stance is not what I was expecting, benefits and comp will be on par with Broadcom which isn’t good and the employee ownership doesn’t really make me want to stay with this company.
34 replies (most recent on top)
"While layoffs are possible, EUC wouldn’t be hiring if major cuts are planned."
You don't understand the PE mind - terminate the expensive current employees that are "retired in place" and then recruit lower-cost replacements. That's their playbook to improve profitability in preparation for spinning off the optimized asset for maximum profit. The layoffs and selective re-hiring will continue.
So, let's assume that KKR asked all the right questions during the negotiations.
But did HT or anyone from Broadcom tell the Harvard MBAs at KKR that only the VMW core sales team typically has an executive relationship with our largest customers?
That relationship is severed when the deal closes, and the core sellers go bye-bye. The EUC sales team will have to rebuild from the ground up. Good luck with that Rob!
I will give it 6-8 months to see how things play out. I came from Citrix and very well aware of the mess it is today and what an acquisition can do.
First, I am happy we are leaving Broadcom as I dont like their methods which are similar to what was done to Citrix.
On paper, things look better under KKR for EUC but we all know the talking heads say one thing and do another. If they do equity adjustments (as we did not get any when Broadcom took over, like RSUs) and hire more folks then the talking heads were truthful, and the future is bright.
If they start with the layoff games, then we know where this is going and it is not worth my time.
I dont see a reason to pack the bags now, but you can definitely start preparing for it.
No RTO letters to EUC folks. So far so day. Another day!!!
EUC will not receive RTO letters. At least from BC anyway.
I mean, you can look to see where you will be in 18 months. Citrix and Cloud Software Group are your guide.
They will keep figurehead(s) that have no power. Those people will create lists of who they want to keep. Then, AOP will be established and yearly layoffs will become normal.
Only question is if Parallels will be absorbed. CSG didnt have similar DaaS companies under it like Alludo has.
No RTO letters to EUC folks. So far so day. Another day!!!
"Some of us are on 'retention plans' and are not leaving that money/RSUs on the table."
I'm puzzled why any EUC employee would be given a retention incentive to stay. The BU is populated with many 10-15+ year employees who seem terrified of leaving. Give them KKR t-shirt and they'll likely stay indefinitely, no matter what you do or say to them.
I'm angry with Broadcom, I'm angry with EUC, I'm angry with VMware. Some people are never happy. If you don't like where KKR/EUC is headed, then quit. The grass isn't greener, it's just a different shade at any other tech firm. All the best.
Thanks that’s exactly what I said I was doing finding a new job. Some of us are on retention plans and are not leaving that money/RSUs on the table.
I believe KKR will only invest in our BU if we demonstrate that we are willing to change
You opinion doesn’t matter at KKR. Extract maximum profit with as few drone employees as possible.
This is the way.
If you are young, join a better company to get better experience, not a company that is about to be a footnote in IT history.
Hi guys
How many of you knew Avago technologies ( the original company of current broadcom) was actually founded by KKR and SL and given a CEO chance to Hock to build this current kingdom?
I'm sure there is a 100% probability that KKR will hand over the EUC to Mr.Tom ( CEO - cloud software group) who was the previous president of BRCM SW group..
Leaders, including Shankar, will not bring any benefits to customers or employees until the close. They will only bring frustration to stakeholders.
"Don't quit, but do demand some meaningful progress from the KKR deal if you stay."
For those of us who are young and have our careers ahead of us, this is what we want. I don't listen to the apathetic EUC employees who just want to cruise thru to retirement. I believe KKR will only invest in our BU if we demonstrate that we are willing to change. While I'm disappointed that they didn't replace Shankar, I'm hopeful that in time they'll realize that he's not the leader that we need. I'll gladly stay if we have better leaders.
"If you don't like where KKR/EUC is headed, then quit."
No, instead let's raise the bar of expectations for a credible EUC leadership team that has enthusiasm for open communication and substantive new ideas consideration. Don't quit, but do demand some meaningful progress from the KKR deal if you stay.
“ My two years in the EUC marketing team have been frustrating. From the VP downward, through the layers of Sr Directors and Directors, there's a total lack of enthusiasm for any meaningful change. They cling to the past.”
You just described Citrix’ Marketing team too. EUC in general feels stuck and boring, thanks to Gartner. My opinion is Gartner became way too powerful with its Magic Quadrant. EUC lost its way when everyone chased how far up and to the right they could get. New innovations and tech opportunities took backseat to that position on the MQ. So VDI became DaaS, DaaS will become VdIaaS, etc…its not systemic to you unfortunately.
I'm angry with Broadcom, I'm angry with EUC, I'm angry with VMware. Some people are never happy. If you don't like where KKR/EUC is headed, then quit. The grass isn't greener, it's just a different shade at any other tech firm. All the best.
Okay, so I re-read the KKR press release, and they emphasize a willingness to fund the development of new digital workspace solutions. That would require new product or service ideas. However, prior EUC planning meeting outcomes have not surfaced much.
I don't believe that predictable UEM and VDI feature updates are what KKR has in mind.
EUC people thoughts on KKR and our future?
We are toast
"I think it's time for Shankar to consider bringing in new talent"
Why would he do that when he is the key defender of the current status quo?
It has to come from KKR; it's the only way to move EUC out of a comfort zone.
I believe that there are some disgruntled employees at Broadcom VMware who might benefit from a change in perspective. Despite having a job, they continue to express dissatisfaction. I think it's time for Shanker to consider bringing in new talent who are eager to grow and contribute positively to the company's success. Fresh perspectives can lead to innovation and progress.
Is it a strategy to keep customers waiting until the close even with contracts on hold and a decreased service level?
It is very disappointed.
"This is just a gig until you can find a better company with better people to work at."
My two years in the EUC marketing team have been frustrating. From the VP downward, through the layers of Sr Directors and Directors, there's a total lack of enthusiasm for any meaningful change. They cling to the past. They are the historians of a bygone era in enterprise software. Completely out of touch with modern digital marketing skills.
Lackluster.
Can't blame 'em, as the deal was done by HT. Given a choice, it would have been much better to end up with some hyperscaler or a synergetic parent. Standalone makes me uncomfortable.
In theory that's true, but VMware was hiring for a good amount of time until close the acquisition and then folks were let go...so..
VMware days are gone. Be smart and move out to a better company before they lay you off.
Don't use the word leadership in the context of the managers that filtered up to the top of a department in an MNC . I wonder if this is on someone's reading list: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbarians_at_the_Gate
No doubt that EUC Leadership is lacking on many levels. It's resulted in a shoddy organization with a very lackluster sales team, lacking in IQ and competence. I enjoyed the sales team kissing up in the chat bar in today's townhall, that's about the best sell job they can do.
What's my point? There are a few of us that see reality for what it is. An ok product led by substandard leaders (VPs, SR. Directors, Directors) coupled with a self entitled sales group that should be working at 7-11s, there is no light at the end of the tunnel. This is just a gig until you can find a better company with better people to work at.
Microsoft has already decimated Airwatch. Horizon is going the way of dinosaurs and never made a dent in the Citrix market. It is very noticeable that leadership have dodged public questions about the fate of vSphere for Desktops. If that major discount goes then Horizon is dead dead dead. So is Citrix on vSphere as the fools gave the discount to customers of them too. No way Hockmaster T will give away product to KKR. Stick a fork in it. It's done.
"While layoffs are possible, EUC wouldn’t be hiring if major cuts are planned. Even though they’re not perfect, I much prefer a management team that knows the business and technology over a Harvard MBA that only has book knowledge."
You are living in a bubble. Most of EUC leadership are overpaid old heads who depend on their reports to educate them on how the business should be run. I work in EUC witnessed the promotions of many people to Directors and Sr. Directors who have technical knowledge but no leadership skills. The VP level layer have no clue of what is going on below director levels. Recent hiring is needed to fulfill responsibilities that used to be covered by VMware global teams. Once the dead weight and old heads are removed and talented leaders are brought in for a fraction of what the old heads are paid, EUC will be profitable.
$3.8B for a BU that Shanker and others used to claim was worth $8-10B for VMware. Pathetic.
Right, because public companies are so much better than private equity. It's not like public companies have been laying off massive numbers of employees to preserve their stock price.
"I found them to be much more humane than most other PEs."
Including 'Private Equity' and 'Humane' in the same sentence is an oxymoron. Dude, you really need to raise your expectations of what a good employer acts like. Seriously.
I wonder if HT agreed to start the EUC layoffs before KKR closes on the deal. We all know what happened to the Carbon Black folks. They got zero warning that cuts were coming.
The KKR mercenaries drove a hard bargain to get EUC for $3.8B, so what else is in the deal's terms and conditions other than the 'fire sale' price they paid for our BU?
Having worked for a KKR company previously, I found them to be much more humane than most other PEs. They really focus on the business opportunity and investing to maximize it for the long term. While layoffs are possible, EUC wouldn’t be hiring if major cuts are planned. Even though they’re not perfect, I much prefer a management team that knows the business and technology over a Harvard MBA that only has book knowledge.
KKR has stated they want to retain the current VMware EUC leadership. That's reason enough for me to leave ASAP. Truly, I was hopeful for some meaningful change. Staying around to witness the coming headcount cuts, and wondering if I'll be in the next round of staff reductions is not appealing. Do we need more evidence that KKR will apply their usual PE playbook on the EUC BU? I think not.