Qualtrics Appoints Oracle Veteran Jason Maynard as New CEO, Signaling Bold Shift in Enterprise Experience Management

In a move that has sent ripples through the enterprise software industry, Qualtrics, the experience management juggernaut headquartered in Provo, Utah, and Seattle, has officially named Jason Maynard as its new Chief Executive Officer. The announcement, made on Tuesday, marks a pivotal transition for the company, which has been at the forefront of helping organizations gather data and refine the interactions customers, employees, and other stakeholders have with their products and services.

Maynard, a seasoned veteran with 30 years in the enterprise software arena, arrives at Qualtrics after a decade-long tenure at Oracle, where he served as Executive Vice President of Revenue Operations. His appointment is not just a change in leadership—it’s a statement of intent. In a blog post announcing his new role, Maynard reflected on the seismic shifts currently reshaping the tech landscape: “I’ve had a front-row seat to some of the biggest shifts in our industry, and right now we’re in the middle of the largest I’ve ever seen.”

This transition comes on the heels of Zig Serafin’s departure from the CEO role in October. Serafin, who had been a longtime executive at Qualtrics, stepped down but remains vice chairman, ensuring continuity as the company navigates this new chapter. Maynard’s deep operational expertise and strategic vision are expected to drive Qualtrics’ next phase of growth, particularly as the company continues to expand its influence in the experience management space.

Qualtrics’ journey has been nothing short of remarkable. Once a publicly traded entity, the company was acquired in 2023 by Silver Lake and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board in a private equity deal valued at $12.5 billion. With a global workforce exceeding 4,500 employees, Qualtrics is now poised for its next big move: a pending $6.75 billion acquisition of Press Ganey Forsta, a deal that promises to further solidify its position as a leader in experience and patient feedback solutions.

But Qualtrics isn’t the only tech giant making headlines this week. Microsoft has announced a significant leadership shift, with Jenny Lay-Flurrie, the company’s longtime Chief Accessibility Officer, stepping into a new role as Head of the Trusted Technology Group. Lay-Flurrie, who has been a tireless advocate for accessibility and disability inclusion at Microsoft since 2005, shared her excitement on LinkedIn: “In every role, one principle has grounded me: do the right thing. I am humbled and excited to take on this next challenge, staying true to that north star.”

Her move comes as Microsoft continues to prioritize trust, privacy, safety, and responsible AI use—areas that are increasingly critical as technology becomes more deeply embedded in everyday life. Lay-Flurrie’s successor in the accessibility space remains to be seen, but her legacy of championing inclusivity is sure to endure.

Meanwhile, in the Bay Area, Five9, a customer experience software company, has welcomed Amit Mathradas as its new CEO. Mathradas brings a wealth of experience, having previously led Nintex for three years and served as COO at Avalara. His appointment signals Five9’s ambition to innovate and scale in the competitive customer experience market.

In the cruise industry, Holland America Line has promoted Michelle Flandreau to Vice President of Marketing and E-Commerce. Flandreau, who joined the company last year, has an impressive track record, having held marketing leadership roles at Expedia, Tommy Bahama, LiquidPlanner, and Guidant Financial. Her expanded role underscores Holland America’s commitment to enhancing its digital presence and customer engagement.

The climate tech sector is also seeing significant movement. AMP, a Colorado-based climate technology company, has appointed Amir Moftakhar as its new Chief Financial Officer. Moftakhar, who previously served as CFO at Modern Hydrogen, a Seattle-area cleantech startup, brings deep financial expertise to AMP. His appointment comes at a critical time for the climate tech industry, which is under increasing pressure to deliver scalable, sustainable solutions.

Seattle’s cleantech nonprofit VertueLab is also making strides, having hired Kris Licciardello as Partnerships and Alliances Lead for Washington state and Leo Ochoa in the same role for Oregon. Additionally, Jasmin Smith has joined as Oregon Program Director, bolstering VertueLab’s efforts to support early-stage cleantech startups in the Pacific Northwest.

In the edtech space, Gravyty, a Seattle-based company originally founded in Boston, has bolstered its leadership team with two key hires. Matt Carlson, a former executive at TalkingPoints and Instructure, has joined as Chief Sales Officer, while Ashley Jones Lee, previously CFO at Uptempo, has taken on the role of Chief Financial Officer. Gravyty, which recently merged with Ivy.ai and Ocelot after raising $21 million from K1 Investment Management, is focused on transforming fundraising efficiency and student engagement through AI-driven solutions.

Finally, Yoodli, a Seattle-based AI roleplay startup, is on a hiring spree as it scales rapidly. The company has brought on Alan Camperson as Head of Global Customer Support, Meg Cory as Field Marketing Manager, and Cortney Perry as Enterprise Account Executive. Yoodli, which recently raised $40 million and reported 900% revenue growth, is making waves in the AI-driven communication training space.

As the tech industry continues to evolve at breakneck speed, these leadership changes and strategic hires underscore a broader trend: companies are doubling down on innovation, customer experience, and responsible growth. Whether it’s Qualtrics redefining experience management, Microsoft deepening its commitment to trust and accessibility, or startups like Yoodli and Gravyty leveraging AI to transform industries, one thing is clear—the future of tech is being shaped by bold visionaries and transformative ideas.

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