Rob Tarkoff has been appointed as CEO of Seismic, succeeding co-founder Doug Winter who will remain a board member and adviser.
The transition marks a significant change in Seismic's leadership as Winter steps aside after more than 15 years at the helm of the company. Tarkoff brings to the role more than 25 years' experience in the software industry, most recently serving as executive vice president and general manager of Oracle's Customer Experience application suite.
Leadership change
Doug Winter, who founded Seismic and has led its evolution from a five-person startup to a global business, expressed confidence in passing the leadership to Tarkoff. In a statement Winter said,
"For nearly two decades, Seismic has been my life's work. I'm proud of what we've built together with our customers, and I'm confident this is the right moment to retire and for new leadership to guide Seismic into its next chapter. Rob's experience leading world-class software teams and his people-first approach make him the right person to carry our culture forward and accelerate growth."
Winter will continue to contribute to Seismic's direction through his positions on the board and as an advisor, helping to maintain continuity during the transition.
Growth period
Tarkoff joins Seismic during a period of sustained profitability and customer expansion. The company has reported eight consecutive profitable quarters. Its customer base now includes 85 organisations each spending USD $1 million or more per year on Seismic's services.
The announcement follows the company's tenth annual customer conference, which recorded its highest attendance to date. Seismic works with customers across various industries and regions and has established a customer retention rate described as 'best-in-class' by company representatives. Seismic has also been repeatedly recognised in analyst publications and has been listed on the Forbes Cloud 100 five times.
Incoming CEO's perspective
Upon his appointment, Tarkoff commented on the opportunity to lead Seismic through its next phase, stating,
"I'm honored to join Seismic and build on the incredible foundation Doug and the team have created. Seismic's people, product, and customers are unmatched, and I look forward to meeting them as we shape the company's next stage of growth. Having been a Seismic customer myself, I've seen firsthand how powerful strategic enablement can be in driving go-to-market success - and I can't wait to expand that impact for organisations everywhere."
Tarkoff's previous experience includes leadership roles at Oracle and Adobe, as well as serving as president and CEO of Lithium Technologies. He holds a bachelor's degree from Amherst College and a JD from Harvard Law School.
Under Tarkoff, Seismic plans to continue its focus on AI-powered innovation, developing capabilities that enable companies to support their go-to-market teams and measure business outcomes. Tarkoff's arrival is anticipated to strengthen the company's operational approach as it looks to broaden its customer impact across global markets.
Board's response
Ryan Lanpher and Andrew Young, both Seismic board members and Partners at Permira, voiced their appreciation for Winter's contribution in a joint statement:
"We're deeply grateful to Doug for his vision and leadership in building Seismic into the leader it is today. His continued involvement as a board member ensures continuity as we enter this exciting next chapter. As we look ahead, we are thrilled to welcome Rob Tarkoff as CEO. Rob brings a unique combination of product expertise, operational experience, and passion for enablement, which is imperative as Seismic accelerates in delivering enterprise-grade AI solutions for GTM teams."
The board emphasised that Tarkoff's background and commitment to enablement align with the company's strategy as it intensifies its enterprise AI offerings.
Future focus
Seismic's leadership change comes as large enterprises increasingly invest in enablement software and AI-driven solutions to bolster their customer-facing operations. The company, headquartered in San Diego with global offices, continues to support more than 2,000 organisations worldwide as it seeks to maintain and grow its market position under Tarkoff's leadership.
