AppSense, the leading provider of user virtualization technology, today announced it has appointed Harry Labana as vice president and chief technology officer. Recognized as a world expert in desktop virtualization, Labana brings more than 16 years experience in a wide-range of technology roles including infrastructure, software development, architecture and project management. Labana joins AppSense from partner Citrix, where he was vice president and chief technology officer for the Citrix Desktop Division.

“In the past two years, AppSense has experienced record growth in terms of revenue, customers and employees”

AppSense and Citrix have a strong, decade-long partnership, which has taken their joint virtualization solutions into some of the largest desktop environments in the world. AppSense currently counts more than 4,000 customers and 350 reseller partners worldwide. User virtualization is one of the key technologies of the Citrix Desktop Transformation Model as it moves the focus from infrastructure to users, and Labana will play an active role in driving the evolution of the modern desktop and accelerating user virtualization adoption.

“I am very excited to join AppSense at a critical period in its development, as the market opportunity and potential for user virtualization is growing exponentially,” said Labana. “It has been an honor to work with the team at Citrix, and I view my new role at AppSense as an opportunity to further strengthen and extend the partnership between the two companies. Through my work with AppSense, I have developed a deep respect for its mission and people and will continue to work closely with Citrix to transform the desktop and drive innovation. I look forward to being a key participant in helping AppSense take advantage of the bright future that lies ahead.”

During his time at Citrix, Labana was part of the leadership team responsible for driving the company’s overall technology and product strategy. In his role, he evangelized the strategic vision of the company’s desktop virtualization solutions to both internal and external audiences. Prior to joining the company, Labana led global engineering and architecture for desktop and application virtualization at Goldman Sachs. During his nine years with Goldman Sachs, Labana advised clients, research analysts and internal bankers on trends and investment opportunities. Labana also held numerous infrastructure, architecture, project management and software development roles in financial services firms such as Deutsche Bank, Barclays Capital and Lehman Brothers. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electronic systems engineering with honors from the University of Manchester.

“In the past two years, AppSense has experienced record growth in terms of revenue, customers and employees,” said Darron Antill, CEO of AppSense. “With Harry’s extensive and impressive track record in the desktop virtualization industry, his addition as VP and CTO will further advance AppSense’s innovation and technological development to further our position as the market leader in user virtualization and keep us as at the forefront as we head into the era of mobile and cloud computing.”