Slack CEO Lidiane Jones is departing
In a surprising turn of events, Slack CEO Lidiane Jones is set to leave at the end of the year to become the CEO of the dating app Bumble. Salesforce, Slack’s parent company, will announce her replacement in a week’s time. Jones joined Slack just 10 months ago, succeeding co-founder Stewart Butterfield. The next CEO faces the significant task of steering Slack through Salesforce’s ongoing transformation, particularly in the realm of AI.
Challenges Ahead:
Salesforce acquired Slack in a monumental deal worth nearly $28 billion in December 2020, and now it will have its third CEO in just two years. Brent Leary, co-founder and partner at CRM Essentials, believes the new CEO will likely come from within Salesforce or someone with knowledge of the company’s culture and operations. Given Salesforce’s increased focus on AI, the new leader should guide Slack through this transformation period and the ever-changing enterprise software landscape.
Unexpected Departure:
Jones’s decision to leave after only 10 months in the role came as a surprise, considering the fanfare that accompanied her appointment. While Slack seemed to be doing well under her leadership, it’s clear that an opportunity like becoming the CEO of Bumble was too compelling to pass up. Marc Benioff, Salesforce’s chairman and CEO, expressed sadness at her departure but acknowledged the fantastic opportunity she is pursuing.
Reasons for the Move:
Moving from an enterprise software company to a dating app may seem unusual, but analysts suggest it’s a good fit for Jones’s skill set. Bumble offers her the opportunity to lead a public company rather than a division within Salesforce. Slack’s future as part of Salesforce is more about integration, and Bumble could provide the ideal platform for Jones to leverage her turnaround and growth skills.
As Lidiane Jones departs, she will assist her successor in transitioning to the role, much like Stewart Butterfield did for her, even though it’s just been 10 months since she took the helm at Slack. It’s a move that may raise some eyebrows in the tech industry but could turn out to be the right decision for her career.