David McCann

Seattle software company Varolii Corp. has hired former Microsoft executive David McCann as president and CEO.

McCann is replacing Nicholas Tiliacos, who stepped down in November as CEO after 10 years.

Varolii makes communications software that allows banks, airlines, utilities and other organizations to send automated alerts or messages. Six of the top 10 airlines use the technology, as do five of the top wireless and cable providers.

McCann takes over a company with about 240 employees, mostly concentrated in Seattle. He said he was recruited for the job to take Varolii to the next level, including expanding abroad.

He said his new job gives him the chance to run a smaller company with the R&D and marketing heft to grow and expand. He said was particularly drawn to Varolii because the company is at the intersection of “personalizing communities of large corporations in a world that is headed to the cloud and already mobile.”

The company’s 400 customers are in the U.S., and McCann said he wants to open up opportunities in Europe and Asia.

As for moving back to a smaller company, McCann said he was excited about the opportunity to lead a “nice-size, late-stage” company.

“I think I get the most fun and most professional fulfillment from helping grow emerging companies,” McCann said.

He said Varolii plans to launch new products in the coming month.

Varolii has struggled in the recent past due to the recession. The company canceled an initial public offering in 2008 and cut staff in January 2009 and this past summer.

McCann said, like many in the industry, Varolii had to cut costs during the recession. But now the company is hiring for about 15 positions. As for an IPO, it’s not in the cards right now, said McCann, who said his focus will be on growing the company.

At Microsoft McCann was general manager of the Windows Server Product Management team in the Server & Cloud Division of the Server & Tools Business.

McCann also was CEO at Electronic Evidence Inc. and CarParts Technologies.