Bret Taylor Named Salesforce Co-CEO

Salesforce Announces Bret Taylor as Co-CEO

Rumors regarding Marc Benioff potentially stepping down from his leadership role at Salesforce have circulated for a while. Speculation suggested a possible transition similar to Jeff Bezos’ move to board chairman. Initial reports indicated Bret Taylor as a likely candidate for advancement.

However, Benioff isn’t relinquishing control at this time. Today, Taylor received a promotion to co-CEO of the prominent CRM company.

Taylor's New Role and Responsibilities

Previously serving as president and chief operating officer, Taylor now assumes the position of vice chair and co-CEO. He will work alongside Benioff, rather than reporting to him directly.

Benioff believes this structure will be beneficial given the company’s substantial growth through significant acquisitions. These include the $15.7 billion acquisition of Tableau in 2019 and the $27.7 billion acquisition of Slack, a deal that Taylor himself led, finalized last year.

The Need for Shared Leadership

Managing the expansive scope of Salesforce’s operations presents a considerable challenge. It’s acknowledged that overseeing all aspects of the business may be too demanding for a single individual.

“We’re in a new world and Salesforce has never been more relevant or strategic for our customers,” Benioff stated. “Together, Bret and I will lead Salesforce through our next chapter, while living our shared values of trust, customer success, innovation and equality for all.”

Statements from Both Leaders

Taylor expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to lead the company alongside Benioff. “Partnering with him to lead the company he co-founded 22 years ago is an enormous privilege.”

He further added, “I’m thankful for our Salesforce employees, our Trailblazers, our customers, and all of our stakeholders who help us make our company and our world a better place.”

Precedent for Co-CEO Structure

This isn’t the first instance of Salesforce utilizing a co-CEO model. Keith Block previously held the position, starting in 2018, before his departure in 2020.

Taylor’s Background and Rise Within Salesforce

Prior to joining Salesforce, Taylor served as CEO of the early social network, FriendFeed. He also held the role of CTO at Facebook from 2009 to 2012.

He entered Salesforce through the acquisition of Quip for $750 million in 2016. Taylor rapidly advanced within the organization, surpassing other long-tenured executives. His promotion to president and chief operating officer in 2019 positioned him directly below Benioff, until this recent development.