Qualtrics names Jason Maynard CEO to drive AI growth

Qualtrics has appointed Jason Maynard as Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect and named him to its board.

Maynard joined from Oracle, where he served as Executive Vice President of Revenue Operations. Qualtrics said Maynard has 30 years of experience in enterprise software, capital markets and start-ups.

The change puts a permanent chief executive in place after a period of interim leadership. Qualtrics said Jim Whitehurst and Mark Gillett, who served as interim co-CEOs, have returned to board roles. Whitehurst continues as Executive Chairman.

Qualtrics tied the appointment to its product and investment direction in artificial intelligence. The company said it is scaling AI investments and cited the pending acquisition of Press Ganey, which it valued at USD $6.75 billion.

Qualtrics did not disclose further details on timing, financing, or regulatory approvals for the Press Ganey transaction. It positioned the deal as part of a broader push around AI in its experience management software.

AI focus

Qualtrics said it has seen momentum in AI adoption among customers. It said nearly half of customers have upgraded to AI-related offerings.

The company described the next stage as scaling adoption across its customer base. It linked this to customer loyalty, churn reduction, employee engagement and faster insights. Qualtrics did not provide specific customer names or revenue figures related to AI upgrades.

Whitehurst said Maynard's background in cloud software and his view on AI were key factors behind the choice.

"Jason has scaled one of the most successful cloud businesses, built products customers depend on, and has a sharp perspective on where AI is taking our industry. That's a powerful combination that will take Qualtrics, our category, and the value we deliver to customers to the next level," said Jim Whitehurst, Executive Chairman, Qualtrics.

Maynard said the company's position in experience management and the role of AI in business shaped his decision to take the job.

"Qualtrics invented Experience Management, and with AI at the core of modern business the ability to understand human experience and act on what matters in context is more important than ever," said Jason Maynard, Chief Executive Officer, Qualtrics.

"This is a rare opportunity to lead the company that created its category and build on that foundation with innovation, execution, and a relentless focus on delivering real impact for our customers," said Maynard.

Executive background

At Oracle, Maynard joined through the company's acquisition of NetSuite. Qualtrics said he helped scale revenue nearly fivefold at NetSuite and expanded the customer base from 11,000 to more than 43,000.

Before moving into operating roles, Maynard spent 15 years as an equity research analyst at Merrill Lynch, Credit Suisse and Wells Fargo, according to Qualtrics. He covered software and internet companies and produced research on the early development of cloud computing.

Qualtrics also said Maynard co-founded Verix Software, which was acquired in 1999, and has acted as an angel investor and adviser to start-ups including MuleSoft, Siperian, Desktone and Cacheflow.

Ryan Smith, Co-Founder of Qualtrics, said he would support Maynard as the company enters a new phase.

"I'm incredibly excited to support Jason as he leads Qualtrics in this next phase," said Ryan Smith, cofounder of Qualtrics.

"Jason's background, market experience, and ability to lead out in new trends is critical for where the technology ecosystem and Qualtrics are going. He is the perfect person to lead through this next frontier of Experience Management with AI at the center of everything," said Smith.

Early priorities

In a note to employees, Maynard said he plans to begin by listening to customers, partners and employees. He described the current period as a major shift in the software industry driven by AI.

"The best advice I ever got when I joined NetSuite was simple: start by listening," said Maynard.

"So that's what I'm doing. I'll be spending my first weeks listening to customers, partners, and employees to understand their experience, what's working, and what we can do to deliver even more value," said Maynard.

Maynard said he intends to build on the company's existing foundations and maintain an execution focus in the near term.

"My job is to help us continue building on this with speed, clarity, and a relentless focus on delivering real value," said Maynard.