New Relic Announces New CEO, Founder Lew Cirne Steps into Chairman Role

New Relic Announces Leadership Transition

Prior to releasing its earnings report, New Relic, a prominent applications performance monitoring company, revealed a significant change in leadership. Founder Lew Cirne will be transitioning from his role as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to become Executive Chairman.

Bill Staples Appointed as New CEO

Concurrently, the company announced the appointment of Bill Staples as the new CEO. Staples, a seasoned professional within the software industry, initially joined New Relic last year as Chief Product Officer.

His responsibilities were quickly expanded in January, when he was promoted to President and Chief Product Officer. This latest advancement signifies a swift progression within the organization, culminating in the leadership position.

Cirne's Perspective on the Transition

Cirne expressed that his decision to assume the Executive Chairman role was predicated on finding a dependable successor to lead the company as CEO. He believes he has found that individual in Staples.

“A founder’s ultimate aspiration is to establish a company with enduring impact, and then to transition into a different capacity when the moment is opportune,” Cirne stated. “This necessitates a trustworthy partner who embodies the company’s core principles and possesses the capabilities required for continued success. I am genuinely enthusiastic about my move to the Executive Chairman role and having Bill fulfill this function.”

Staples' Readiness for the Role

For Staples, this opportunity to helm New Relic as CEO represents a career high point, built upon extensive experience at major corporations. He described the promotion as both humbling and a challenge he feels prepared to embrace.

“This marks a new phase in my career, the experience of leading a publicly traded company valued at over a billion dollars. However, my background working directly with our customers, coupled with my tenures at Microsoft and Adobe – both substantial organizations – has thoroughly equipped me for this next stage,” Staples explained.

Cirne's Plans for the Summer

Cirne intends to take some time off this summer to allow Staples the autonomy to establish himself as the company’s leader, free from the influence of the founder and long-serving CEO. He anticipates resuming his duties as Executive Chairman in the fall.

Staples' Confidence in Leading New Relic

As he assumes his new responsibilities, Staples acknowledges the learning curve inherent in the CEO position, but expresses strong confidence in his ability to succeed. He has previously managed large-scale organizations.

“I am aware there is much to learn about being an exceptional CEO, but I also bring a wealth of experience in managing organizations at scale. I’ve been involved in profit and loss statements significantly larger than New Relic’s, and I am confident in my ability to drive the company’s growth,” Staples said.

Board Support for the Transition

Hope Cochran, Managing Director at Madrona Ventures and Chairman of the New Relic Board, affirmed the board’s full support for the leadership transition from Cirne to Staples.

“Leveraging the foundation Lew established and Bill’s leadership, New Relic is poised for a bright future and a clear trajectory to accelerate growth as a leader in observability,” Cochran stated.