Ask three people who leads VMware and you may get three different names. Some will say Raghu Raghuram, others will mention Pat Gelsinger, and a few will point to Broadcom. The confusion is understandable, because the answer changed in 2023 and many websites never caught up. This guide explains who holds the top spot, who manages the business day to day, and how to avoid outdated information. It reflects public reporting as of the date above.
The Short Answer
VMware no longer operates as an independent company with its own chief executive. It is part of Broadcom, and Broadcom CEO Hock Tan sets the overall direction. The person most visibly running the VMware business is Krish Prasad, who leads the VMware Cloud Foundation Division.
What Changed in 2023
Broadcom announced its plan to buy VMware in May 2022. The deal faced a long regulatory review and finally closed in November 2023 at a price of about $61 billion, after China’s antitrust regulator gave its approval. When it closed, Raghuram stepped down as CEO. He stayed on for a time as a strategic advisor to Tan.
Raghuram’s tenure ran from 2021 to 2023. He joined VMware in 2003 and worked his way up to become COO of products and cloud services. He took over from CFO Zane Rowe, who had served as interim CEO after Gelsinger left in early 2021 to lead Intel.
Who Runs VMware Day to Day
Broadcom organizes its businesses into product divisions, and VMware was folded into that structure. Here is how leadership looks today:
| Role | Person |
|---|---|
| Top decision-maker | Hock Tan, President and CEO of Broadcom |
| Head of VMware Cloud Foundation Division | Krish Prasad, SVP and General Manager |
| Former VMware CEO (2021 to 2023) | Raghu Raghuram |
| Separate VMware CEO today | None |
Krish Prasad at a Glance
If you want a name to associate with VMware today, Prasad is the best fit. Here is what to know about him:
- Role: Senior Vice President and General Manager of Broadcom’s VMware Cloud Foundation Division, covering private cloud and multi-cloud infrastructure software.
- Experience: More than 30 years in enterprise software across engineering and general management.
- VMware history: He previously led the Cloud Infrastructure Business Group and, before that, the vSphere business.
- Earlier career: Senior roles at HPE and BMC Software.
- Recent activity: He appeared at VMware Explore 2026, discussing how private cloud and private AI are coming together as agentic AI grows.
- Public message: In April, he argued that the answer to expensive AI hardware isn’t buying more of it but building smarter software-driven private clouds.
Why Old Pages Still Name the Wrong Person
Plenty of business directories and “executive team” pages haven’t been updated since the acquisition. They may still list Raghuram as chief executive or show the old VMware board. This happens because these sites pull from static databases and rarely revisit entries once they’re published.
A few habits help you avoid the trap:
- Check the date on any page listing executives.
- Compare it against Broadcom’s own leadership pages.
- Treat directory sites as a starting point, not the final word.
- Look for recent conference coverage, which shows who is speaking for the company now.
Why the Current CEO of VMware Question Matters
This isn’t just trivia. For customers, partners, and job seekers, knowing where decisions come from changes how you read the news.
- Pricing and licensing: These choices flow through Broadcom’s leadership team, not a separate VMware executive suite.
- Product direction: Announcements about VMware Cloud Foundation and AI infrastructure usually come from Prasad’s division.
- Partner relationships: Channel and support policies are set within Broadcom’s broader structure.
- Media coverage: Headlines that say “VMware CEO” are often referring to Hock Tan or are simply outdated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the current CEO of VMware?
There is no standalone CEO. Hock Tan leads Broadcom, which owns VMware, and Krish Prasad heads the VMware Cloud Foundation Division.
Is Raghu Raghuram still in charge?
No. He stepped down when the Broadcom acquisition closed in November 2023.
Is VMware still an independent company?
No. It operates as part of Broadcom.
Where can I verify leadership information?
Broadcom’s official executive pages are the most reliable source, since third-party directories often lag behind.
The Bottom Line
The story of VMware’s leadership is really a story about consolidation. A company once led by well-known executives is now a division inside a larger corporation, guided by Hock Tan and run operationally by Krish Prasad. If you need the current ceo of vmware for a report, article, or business decision, name Tan for overall authority and Prasad for the VMware Cloud Foundation business, and confirm the latest details on Broadcom’s website before publishing.
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Through his writing, Kabir focuses on delivering informative perspectives that help entrepreneurs, professionals, and business enthusiasts stay updated with important developments and make better-informed decisions.
At Business Prime Time, Kabir continues to explore emerging opportunities, industry trends, and ideas shaping the future of business.
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