Google Cloud Undergoes Major Leadership Shift in Partner Organization
Google Cloud has reportedly undergone a significant leadership change within its partner organization. According to a report from CRN, Colleen Kapase, the global partner program leader for the $71 billion cloud giant, has suddenly departed the company. She is being replaced by David Smith, a former Microsoft executive with nearly three decades of experience in channel sales.
David Smith's Background and Appointment
David Smith, a Microsoft veteran of almost 30 years, most recently served as the company's vice president of worldwide channel sales. He joined Google in November 2025, though his official title was not disclosed at that time. A Google Cloud spokesperson has confirmed the transition to CRN, stating that Smith will now report directly to Kevin Ichhpurani, President of the Global Partner Ecosystem at Google Cloud.
In a statement to the publication, a Google spokesperson said, "In his new role, David will lead the agentic transformation of our channel." This appointment brings one of Microsoft's most seasoned channel figures into the Google ecosystem, marking a high-profile executive move between the two tech rivals.
Smith's extensive career at Microsoft included roles as vice president of worldwide channel sales, vice president of US partners, and general manager of worldwide SMB sales. After leaving Microsoft, he expressed his enthusiasm for Google's mission on social media. In a LinkedIn post from November last year, Smith wrote, "Google Partners are the ultimate force multiplier in this endeavor. I am eager to work hand-in-hand with this dynamic ecosystem to scale our impact and deliver unprecedented value to every customer."
Colleen Kapase's Departure and Legacy
The departure of Colleen Kapase marks the end of a pivotal chapter for Google Cloud's partner strategy. Kapase, who joined the company in early 2024, was instrumental in architecting and rolling out the new partner program currently being implemented. She is known for her strong advocacy of Google's AI capabilities.
In an interview with CRN, Kapase famously stated, "I have to be honest, AI is Google's birthright. This is Google's chance to shine here. Because when you look at their cloud infrastructure, it was built with AI in mind since the very beginning—from a network infrastructure perspective, all the way down."
She emphasized Google's strategic focus on partners with deep industry expertise, saying, "We're not talking to our customers anymore about what Google's technology can do. We're talking about the outcomes at a meaningful level about, 'AI can drive you to the following answers. It can help with the production of things in the following ways.' So that means refocusing on partners that have that deep, deep industry expertise. We're going to double down on that more than we ever have before." According to reports, Kapase has left to pursue opportunities outside of Google Cloud.
Strategic Timing and Business Context
This leadership change comes at a moment of significant momentum for Google Cloud. The company recently reported record revenue of $17.7 billion for the fourth quarter of 2025, representing a staggering 48 percent increase year over year. As Google Cloud leans into what it calls "agentic transformation," Smith is expected to leverage his decades of enterprise and SMB experience to further scale this rapidly growing ecosystem.
Smith's previous roles at Microsoft included serving as vice president of the U.S. partner business until 2022 and vice president of worldwide small and medium size business (SMB) sales from 2017 to 2022. In a post marking his departure from Microsoft, Smith reflected on his career there, writing that he was "grateful for the profound learning, the radical transformation in tech, and especially the trusted relationships built along the way."
The transition represents a strategic move by Google Cloud to strengthen its partner organization with experienced leadership from a major competitor, positioning the company for continued growth in the competitive cloud computing market.
