8x8 names Snaddon Strategy Chief, Gandarias EMEA Head

8x8 has appointed Jamie Snaddon as Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, and Nerea Gandarias as Managing Director for EMEA. The changes take effect immediately.

Snaddon moves into the newly created strategy role and will report to Chief Executive Officer Samuel Wilson. Gandarias succeeds him as head of Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

In his new position, Snaddon will work with Wilson and the executive leadership team on company strategy, growth opportunities, and the prioritisation of initiatives and investment. His remit includes identifying where 8x8's technology, customer base, and partner network can be translated into commercial priorities.

Snaddon has spent more than a decade at 8x8. Most recently, he led the EMEA business, with responsibility for the region's strategy, profitability, market share, and customer growth.

Earlier in his career at 8x8, he led the company's European legal team, gaining experience across commercial, regulatory, and operational issues.

Wilson said Snaddon had played a central role in product launches and international expansion during his time at the company.

"Jamie has proven he can turn strategy into results," said Samuel Wilson, Chief Executive Officer at 8x8. "He understands our technology, our customers, and the markets in which we compete, and he's been the lead on some really successful launches such as 8x8 Small Business and international expansions. As communications and AI reshape our industry, Jamie will work with me and our leadership team to see where 8x8 is best positioned to win, and help translate our strategy into growth and long-term value creation."

Snaddon said the business faced a range of opportunities that would require tighter prioritisation and execution.

"8x8 has meaningful opportunities ahead of us, and capturing them requires focus and disciplined execution," said Snaddon. "I look forward to working with Sam and the leadership team to sharpen our priorities, evaluate opportunities across the business, and help ensure we are focusing our resources where we can create the greatest value for customers, partners, and shareholders."

EMEA role

Gandarias takes over the EMEA leadership post after holding senior marketing and country leadership roles at 8x8. She has worked closely with customers and partners across the region during her time at the company.

Her previous roles at 8x8 include Global Vice President of Field and Channel Marketing and UK Country Lead. Before joining 8x8, she spent 13 years at SS&C Advent.

Wilson said her promotion reflected both internal leadership development and a desire for continuity in the region.

"Nerea knows our business, our customers, and our partners, and brings deep go-to-market experience to the role," said Wilson. "Her appointment also reflects the depth of leadership talent we have developed within 8x8. She is well positioned to build on the momentum Jamie and the EMEA team have created, while maintaining continuity for our customers and partners and continuing to grow the business across the region."

The appointments come as 8x8 reshapes its senior leadership structure around strategy and regional management. By creating a Chief Strategy Officer role and promoting from within for the EMEA post, 8x8 is combining broader corporate planning with continuity in one of its established international markets.

8x8 operates in business communications, with offerings spanning contact centre, unified communications, and communications application programming interfaces. Artificial intelligence is becoming a more prominent factor in the market, and Wilson referred to changes in communications and AI when outlining Snaddon's new brief.

The reshuffle also highlights 8x8's preference for internal appointments to senior operational roles. Both executives bring experience from within the business, with Snaddon moving from regional operations into group strategy and Gandarias stepping up from marketing and country leadership into broader regional management.

That internal progression may help limit disruption for staff, customers, and partners in EMEA, where Snaddon had previously overseen the business. Gandarias now takes responsibility for the region as 8x8 seeks to maintain its direction under a new reporting structure.

Before his latest appointment, Snaddon's mix of regional operational leadership and legal experience had already given him exposure to several sides of the business. Gandarias, meanwhile, takes on the EMEA post with experience across field marketing, channel work, and local market leadership in the UK.