Commvault has appointed Alan Atkinson as its inaugural Chief Business Development Officer, a newly created role intended to spearhead the company’s strategic growth through technology and security partnerships. Atkinson, who previously revitalized Commvault’s Global Partner Organization, will now lead co-development efforts and forge new go-to-market opportunities alongside partners across cloud, AI, and cybersecurity domains.

In parallel, Michelle Graff has joined Commvault as Senior Vice President of Global Partners and Channel. Bringing over 25 years of partner ecosystem experience from her prior work with Securiti.ai, HashiCorp, Pure Storage, and Palo Alto Networks, Graff will oversee partner sales, alliances, and the execution of global partner programs. Together, Atkinson and Graff will collaborate under the leadership of Chief Trust Officer Danielle Sheer and Chief Commercial Officer Gary Merrill, with a shared aim to expand partner success and deliver co-developed solutions that enhance enterprise resilience.

Atkinson brings a rich background in cloud and data protection, having held leadership roles at Dell Technologies—including SVP, CTO, and GM positions—served as President and CEO of XIO Storage, and led WysDM Software prior to its acquisition. In his new capacity, he will prioritize building strategic partnerships and enabling joint innovation that drives customer value.

This leadership evolution reflects Commvault’s strategic focus on strengthening its partner ecosystem, aligning with its broader ambitions in cloud, hybrid environments, and AI-enabled data protection. With over 100,000 customers worldwide and a growing subscription base, these enhanced partnerships aim to deepen market reach and deliver scalable, secure solutions in a competitive data resilience landscape.