Pax8 appoints Tom Gavin to lead global marketing strategy & AI push

Pax8 has named Tom Gavin as Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, with responsibility for leading the company's global marketing, brand, and communications strategy.

Gavin brings nearly three decades of leadership experience from roles in the corporate, government, and non-profit sectors, most recently holding senior positions with organisations including the White House, Salesforce, Coupa, Workato, and the ONE Campaign.

In his new role at Pax8, Gavin will be tasked with amplifying the company's story, shaping its voice in the industry, and accelerating growth through a focus on storytelling, customer advocacy, and community engagement. He will also oversee positioning Pax8 at the forefront of artificial intelligence and managed intelligence initiatives, working closely with partners to support small businesses as they adapt to new technologies in what is described as the 'agentic era'.

Gavin will report to Nick Heddy, who serves as President and Chief Commerce Officer at Pax8. Heddy welcomed Gavin's appointment, highlighting the value of his diverse background.

"We are thrilled with the extensive and diverse marketing and communications experience that Tom is bringing to Pax8. We are on a mission to empower small businesses and their partners in this new era of AI and managed intelligence. Tom's leadership will be instrumental in amplifying that story and helping us scale it globally."

Pax8 describes itself as a cloud commerce Marketplace, connecting partners, vendors, and small to mid-sized businesses with AI-powered insights and comprehensive product support. The company's global partner ecosystem includes more than 40,000 managed service providers and focuses on providing software and services aimed at supporting the growth and security of small and mid-sized business clients.

Experience

Gavin's nearly thirty years of experience have been built at the intersection of brand, growth, and storytelling. Across his previous appointments, he has worked to help organisations scale, differentiate themselves, and establish market leadership. His work has spanned various sectors, offering him a broad perspective on both strategic communication and operational growth.

Commenting on his appointment, Gavin stated his enthusiasm for the company's objectives and the opportunity to strengthen its community ties.

"I love Pax8's mission to help small businesses thrive through their partners. Pax8 has already built an incredible foundation as the Marketplace for cloud solutions, and the opportunity now is to carry that strength into the agentic era. We'll deepen our connection with the partner community, expand the ways we enable and support them, and sharpen our story so even more small businesses can grow with confidence in this new era," Gavin said.

Industry focus

Pax8's priorities in marketing and communications align with its efforts to keep its partners and clients engaged with emerging technologies. With the rapidly evolving landscape of AI and managed intelligence services, the company aims to support small businesses by facilitating access to the tools and insights necessary for sustainable growth and operational efficiency.

Pax8's appointment of Gavin comes as organisations across the channel sector increase their focus on comprehensive customer engagement, effective brand management, and the development of scalable communications strategies to stay competitive.

Gavin's remit will also include enhancing the company's emphasis on customer advocacy, with efforts to build stronger relationships in the partner community regarded as key to maintaining momentum as Pax8 positions itself for continued international expansion.