Slide Names Co-Founder Austin McChord Interim CEO

Slide names Datto founder Austin McChord interim CEO following Michael Fass’ departure as the BCDR provider expands its business serving more than 1,000 MSPs.

Written By
Luis Millares
Luis Millares
Oct 14, 2026
2 minute read
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Slide has named co-founder and Datto founder Austin McChord interim CEO following the departure of fellow co-founder Michael Fass, putting an experienced MSP technology executive in charge of the business continuity and disaster recovery (BCDR) provider.

The leadership transition comes as Slide expands its MSP-focused backup business, which now serves more than 1,000 partners worldwide, following a $70 million Series B funding round earlier this year.

Austin McChord replaces Michael Fass as Slide CEO

McChord takes over leadership of Slide after Fass stepped down as CEO. The change was announced on October 14 with no further explanation or cause given.

Fass played a central role in establishing the company’s initial product offering and developing its MSP partner relationships. During his tenure, Slide expanded internationally and grew its partner base to more than 1,000 MSPs.

“Michael and I started Slide because we believed MSPs deserved something better,” said McChord in a statement. “He brought that vision to life, and I’m deeply grateful for his leadership in building Slide into the successful, growing business it is today.”

Earlier this year, Slide secured $70 million in Series B funding to accelerate product development and expand its international operations. 

The company also announced plans to open a UK office and launch a data center in Germany to support MSP partners across EMEA, extending its international presence under Fass’ leadership.

What the leadership change means for MSP partners

McChord brings experience from founding and scaling Datto, as well as a background in engineering and product development.

Slide said his previous experience leading a BCDR business at scale positions him to guide the company’s next phase of growth.

Founded by McChord and Fass, Slide provides an MSP-focused BCDR platform designed for hybrid environments, with an emphasis on backup performance, security, and direct technical support.

The leadership transition comes as Slide continues developing its presence in the MSP market. 

However, the company has not announced any immediate changes to its product strategy, partner program, or operations following the appointment.

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Back in July, Channel Insider spoke with then-CEO Michael Fass about Slide’s approach to modernizing backup and disaster recovery for MSPs. 

In the interview, Fass emphasized the need for modern backup architecture, faster recovery, and stronger vendor accountability, arguing that many legacy BCDR platforms were not designed to address today’s security threats and complex customer environments.

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Luis Millares

Luis Millares has extensive experience reviewing virtual private networks (VPNs), password managers, and other security software. He has tested and reviewed numerous forms of tech, covering consumer technology like smartphones and laptops, all the way to enterprise software and cybersecurity products. He has authored over 450 online articles on technology and has worked for the leading tech journalism site in the Philippines, YugaTech.com. He currently contributes to the Daily Tech Insider newsletter, providing well-researched insights and coverage of the latest in technology.

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