Salesforce has named Robin Washington as its new President, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Operating Officer, effective March. Washington, a longtime board member and former Gilead Sciences finance chief, will succeed Amy Weaver and Brian Millham, who are set to retire in May.
Weaver had previously announced plans to step down once a successor was found, following her tenure overseeing Salesforce’s improved adjusted operating margin after activist investors took positions in the stock. Millham, who joined Salesforce shortly after its founding in 1999, was promoted to President and COO in 2022 and took on additional responsibilities after the departure of co-CEO Bret Taylor in early 2023.
Washington, 62, has served as Salesforce’s lead independent director since 2022 and was first appointed to the board in 2013. She retired from Gilead Sciences in 2019 and later joined the board of Alphabet. Washington will continue to serve on Salesforce’s board, while Arnold Donald, former Carnival CEO, will assume her previous role as lead independent director.
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff praised Washington’s leadership in a social media post, describing her as a visionary leader with extensive financial and operational expertise. Washington previously held finance leadership roles at Hyperion and PeopleSoft, both of which were later acquired by Oracle—the company where Benioff worked before co-founding Salesforce in 1999.
Salesforce has been actively promoting Agentforce, an AI-driven software solution designed to automate sales and customer service processes within companies. Washington’s appointment comes as the company focuses on strengthening its leadership and navigating its next growth phase.
Millham, a veteran of Salesforce, initially joined the company as President of Commercial Sales before taking on his COO role in 2022. His contributions were instrumental in Salesforce’s early success and expansion, and his responsibilities increased following Taylor’s departure.
Despite the leadership transition, Salesforce remains focused on its innovation and market expansion. The company’s stock dipped by nearly 2% in extended trading following the announcement, but Washington’s extensive background in finance and enterprise software positions her as a strong leader to guide Salesforce’s future strategy.
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