VAST Executive and Leadership Team

July, 2026

Leadership Overview

VAST has 10 executives leading key functions including strategy, revenue, marketing, finance, and technology.

Driven by innovation, VAST is dedicated to powering the next generation of intelligent systems with a unified software infrastructure stack purpose-built to unlock the full potential of AI, transforming modern infrastructure into a global fabric for reasoning AI.

Leadership Roles at VAST

  • Founder & Chief Executive Officer - Renen Hallak
  • Chief Financial Officer - Amy Shapero
  • Chief Revenue Officer - Rick Scurfield
  • Chief Marketing Officer - Marianne Budnik
  • Global Cisco Field Chief Technology Officer - Bryan Schramm
  • Field Chief Technology Officer - Andy Pernsteiner
  • Field Chief Technology Officer - Matthew Koehr
  • Principal Solution Architect & Chief Technology Officer, Office of - Andrew Eakin
  • Global System Intergrators Field Chief Technology Officer - Jesse Thaloor
  • Chief Technology Officer, Office of & Senior Solutions Architect - Joshua Wentzell
  • Renen Hallak - Founder & Chief Executive Officer

    Renen Hallak, the Founder & Chief Executive Officer at VAST, architects the overarching vision and strategic direction for the AI Operating System company. Hallak drives the innovation pipeline, ensuring VAST's unified software infrastructure stack remains purpose-built to unlock the full potential of AI. Overseeing the consolidation of foundational data and compute services, the Founder & Chief Executive Officer facilitates the deployment and communication between AI agents, enabling reasoning over real-time data and automating complex workflows at global scale. This leadership role involves guiding the company's expansion and solidifying its position as a global fabric for reasoning AI, built on VAST's breakthrough DASE architecture. Renen Hallak's strategic imperatives focus on eliminating tradeoffs between performance, scale, simplicity, and resilience, thereby transforming modern infrastructure.
    Renen Hallak

    Amy Shapero - Chief Financial Officer

    Amy Shapero, the Chief Financial Officer at VAST, manages the company's financial operations, strategic planning, and resource allocation to support VAST's mission of powering next-generation intelligent systems. Shapero oversees all aspects of financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and investor relations, ensuring fiscal discipline and sustainable growth. This executive plays a critical role in evaluating investment opportunities, managing capital structure, and optimizing financial performance to enhance shareholder value. By providing strategic financial guidance, the Chief Financial Officer supports VAST's continuous innovation in AI infrastructure and its global expansion. Amy Shapero's expertise is instrumental in navigating the financial complexities of the rapidly evolving AI market, ensuring the company maintains a strong financial foundation as it transforms modern infrastructure into a global fabric for reasoning AI.
    Amy Shapero

    Rick Scurfield - Chief Revenue Officer

    Rick Scurfield, the Chief Revenue Officer at VAST, directs all global sales and revenue generation initiatives, ensuring alignment with the company's mission to power the next generation of intelligent systems. Scurfield oversees the expansion of VAST's AI Operating System across key markets, driving adoption of the unified software infrastructure that consolidates data and compute services. This executive focuses on building and managing high-performing sales teams, cultivating strategic partnerships, and optimizing the go-to-market strategy to accelerate revenue growth. By ensuring seamless integration of VAST's DASE architecture into enterprise environments, the Chief Revenue Officer facilitates organizations' ability to deploy AI agents and automate complex workflows. Rick Scurfield's leadership is critical in translating VAST's technological advancements into tangible business outcomes and market leadership.
    Rick Scurfield

    Marianne Budnik - Chief Marketing Officer

    Marianne Budnik, the Chief Marketing Officer at VAST, shapes and executes the global marketing strategy, amplifying the company's position as the AI Operating System leader. Budnik directs brand development, demand generation, and product marketing efforts, ensuring VAST's unified software infrastructure is recognized for its ability to unlock AI's full potential. Overseeing market intelligence and communications, the Chief Marketing Officer crafts compelling narratives around VAST's DASE architecture and its impact on intelligent systems. This role involves fostering strong relationships with industry analysts, media, and the broader AI community to drive awareness and adoption. Marianne Budnik's leadership ensures that VAST's message of simplifying complex infrastructure and enabling global-scale AI workflows resonates across all target markets, supporting the company's aggressive growth objectives.
    Marianne Budnik

    Bryan Schramm - Global Cisco Field Chief Technology Officer

    Bryan Schramm, the Global Cisco Field Chief Technology Officer at VAST, drives strategic technology initiatives and partnerships, focusing on integrating VAST's AI Operating System with Cisco's extensive ecosystem. Schramm collaborates with field teams to architect and implement solutions that leverage VAST's unified software infrastructure for AI workloads. This role involves translating complex technical requirements into actionable strategies, ensuring seamless data and compute services consolidation for clients. By championing VAST's DASE architecture, the Global Cisco Field Chief Technology Officer facilitates the deployment of AI agents and the automation of workflows across large-scale enterprises. Bryan Schramm's technical leadership ensures VAST's solutions are optimized for performance, scale, and resilience within the broader technology landscape, accelerating the adoption of AI-driven infrastructure.

    Andy Pernsteiner - Field Chief Technology Officer

    Andy Pernsteiner, the Field Chief Technology Officer at VAST, spearheads the technical strategy and customer engagement across key markets, ensuring VAST's AI Operating System effectively addresses complex AI and data challenges. Pernsteiner works directly with clients to architect solutions leveraging VAST's unified software infrastructure, focusing on consolidating data and compute services for optimal AI performance. This executive guides the technical implementation of VAST's DASE architecture, enabling organizations to deploy AI agents and reason over real-time data at global scale. By providing deep technical expertise, the Field Chief Technology Officer ensures that VAST's solutions deliver on promises of performance, simplicity, and resilience. Andy Pernsteiner's role is crucial in translating VAST's technological innovations into practical, high-impact deployments for customers worldwide.

    Matthew Koehr - Field Chief Technology Officer

    Matthew Koehr, the Field Chief Technology Officer at VAST, drives technical excellence and customer success by architecting advanced AI infrastructure solutions. Koehr focuses on deploying VAST's AI Operating System, ensuring organizations can effectively consolidate foundational data and compute services for demanding AI workloads. This executive guides clients through the implementation of VAST's DASE architecture, enabling the seamless operation of AI agents and the automation of complex workflows. By providing deep technical insights and hands-on support, the Field Chief Technology Officer ensures that VAST's commitment to performance, scale, and simplicity is realized in customer environments. Matthew Koehr's expertise is vital in demonstrating the transformative power of VAST's unified software infrastructure for global AI initiatives.

    Andrew Eakin - Principal Solution Architect & Chief Technology Officer, Office of

    Andrew Eakin, the Principal Solution Architect & Chief Technology Officer, Office of at VAST, leads the design and implementation of cutting-edge solutions that leverage VAST's AI Operating System. Eakin focuses on architecting the integration of VAST's unified software infrastructure, ensuring optimal performance for AI and data-intensive applications. This role involves deep technical engagement with clients to consolidate data and compute services, enabling the efficient deployment of AI agents and the automation of complex workflows. By applying expertise in VAST's DASE architecture, the Principal Solution Architect & Chief Technology Officer, Office of, ensures solutions are scalable, resilient, and simple to manage. Andrew Eakin's technical leadership is key to validating and advancing VAST's capabilities in transforming modern infrastructure for reasoning AI.

    Jesse Thaloor - Global System Intergrators Field Chief Technology Officer

    Jesse Thaloor, the Global System Integrators Field Chief Technology Officer at VAST, cultivates strategic technology partnerships, focusing on integrating VAST's AI Operating System with leading system integrators worldwide. Thaloor drives the technical enablement of partners, ensuring they can effectively deploy VAST's unified software infrastructure to meet diverse client needs. This executive architects solutions that consolidate data and compute services, facilitating the deployment of AI agents and the automation of complex workflows at global scale. By championing VAST's DASE architecture, the Global System Integrators Field Chief Technology Officer ensures partners can deliver solutions characterized by performance, scale, and simplicity. Jesse Thaloor's collaborative leadership strengthens VAST's market reach and accelerates the adoption of its transformative AI infrastructure.

    Joshua Wentzell - Chief Technology Officer, Office of & Senior Solutions Architect

    Joshua Wentzell, the Chief Technology Officer, Office of & Senior Solutions Architect at VAST, directs the strategic technical vision and architectural design for VAST's AI Operating System. Wentzell leads the development and refinement of VAST's unified software infrastructure, ensuring it effectively consolidates foundational data and compute services for advanced AI applications. This executive architects complex solutions, enabling organizations to deploy AI agents, reason over real-time data, and automate workflows at global scale. By leveraging deep expertise in VAST's DASE architecture, the Chief Technology Officer, Office of & Senior Solutions Architect ensures solutions deliver unparalleled performance, scale, and simplicity. Joshua Wentzell's technical acumen is critical in driving innovation and solidifying VAST's leadership in transforming modern infrastructure for reasoning AI.

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    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding VAST Top Executives and Leadership Team

    Who leads VAST?
    VAST is led by Renen Hallak (Founder & Chief Executive Officer), along with executives such as Amy Shapero (Chief Financial Officer) and Rick Scurfield (Chief Revenue Officer).
    Who is part of VAST’s executive team?
    The executive team of VAST includes leaders such as Renen Hallak (Founder & Chief Executive Officer), Amy Shapero (Chief Financial Officer), Rick Scurfield (Chief Revenue Officer) and other senior executives.
    How many executives does VAST have?
    VAST has 10 executives leading key business areas.
    What roles are included in VAST’s leadership team?
    The leadership team of VAST includes roles such as Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Revenue Officer, Chief Marketing Officer, Global Cisco Field Chief Technology Officer.