RingCentral Announces CEO Succession

-Tarek Robbiati to Assume CEO Role;
-Vlad Shmunis to Become Executive Chairman

RingCentral Inc., a leading provider of AI-powered global enterprise cloud communications, video meetings, collaboration, and contact center solutions, announced that Tarek Robbiati, a member of the RingCentral Board of Directors since December 2022 and Chief Financial Officer and EVP of Finance and Strategy of Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE: HPE), has been appointed as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, effective August 28, 2023. Robbiati will remain a member of the Company’s Board.

Vlad Shmunis, the Company’s current Chief Executive Officer, will transition to the role of Executive Chairman with focus on driving the Company’s strategic product vision and innovation. Under Shmunis’ leadership, RingCentral has become a recognized industry leader in cloud communications, with more than $2.2 billion in annual revenues, 400,000 customers, 15,000 channel partners and approximately 4,000 full time employees.

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“The world and how we communicate is rapidly changing and this is an exciting time for RingCentral”

Shmunis said, “When I founded RingCentral two decades ago, we were a tiny, unfunded startup with an ambitious mission to improve how businesses around the world communicate internally and with their customers. From those humble beginnings, we have become a recognized leader in our space and one of the largest pure-play SaaS companies in the world. My plan is to stay engaged in the Company, while dedicating most of my time to innovation, product development and long-term strategy. I am excited for the road ahead.”

Rob Theis, lead independent director of RingCentral, said, “Vlad has been the architect of RingCentral’s growth and innovation. The Company’s success has long been defined by its ability to keep its customers ahead of megatrends – mobility, broadband, cloud and now, AI – which is a direct result of Vlad’s visionary leadership.”

With nearly three decades of experience, Robbiati is a renowned strategic and financial operator known for his leadership roles within the telecom, media, technology and financial services industries. Since 2018, he has served as CFO and EVP of Finance and Strategy for Hewlett Packard Enterprise where he was instrumental in driving the pivot of the HPE portfolio to higher-growth, higher-margin areas, and as a result more than doubling ARR while growing free cash flow significantly. Prior to HPE, Robbiati was CFO at Sprint Corp. where he led the company’s strategic efforts to reposition the company. Prior to Sprint, he held numerous leadership positions, including CEO roles at publicly listed and private companies in Australia and Hong Kong.

Theis added, “Tarek is a proven senior business leader who knows our company well and shares our vision and values. His insights have been invaluable in our boardroom. Tarek has an outstanding track record, having successfully scaled businesses, while driving growth and profitability. As we planned for Vlad’s transition to the Executive Chairman role, it was critical that we find a CEO who could lead the next phase of our growth. We strongly believe Tarek is the right executive for this role.”

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“The world and how we communicate is rapidly changing and this is an exciting time for RingCentral,” said Robbiati. “We are at the forefront of our industry, developing differentiated, cutting-edge solutions to meet the emerging needs of our customers. My focus will be on our customers and delivering operational excellence and sustainable, profitable growth. I am honored to take on the CEO role and deliver value to all our stakeholders.”

The Company also announced that Mo Katibeh, President and Chief Operating Officer, will be stepping down. Mo will remain a special advisor to the Company and will help with a smooth transition.

Shmunis concluded, “Mo has played a pivotal role building out our team, evolving our product roadmap, expanding our partner ecosystem, shaping our winning culture, and driving meaningful efficiencies in the business. I want to personally thank him for his outstanding work ethic and the many contributions he has made to our company, and wish him the best of luck moving forward.”