Freshworks Names Former ServiceNow Executive Murali Swaminathan As CTO

Freshworks Names Former ServiceNow Executive Murali Swaminathan As CTO

SUMMARY

Freshworks appoints Murali Swaminathan, a former ServiceNow executive, as its new CTO to lead global engineering and architecture teams.

This hiring comes amid recent leadership changes, including CEO Girish Mathrubootham stepping down to become executive chairman in May 2024.

Despite leadership transitions, Freshworks reports strong financial growth, with a 19% year-over-year revenue increase to $145.1 Mn in Q2 2024 and aims for $1 Bn revenue by 2026.

NASDAQ-listed SaaS startup Freshworks has roped in Murali Swaminathan as its chief technology officer (CTO).

In his new role, Swaminathan will lead Freshworks’ global engineering and architecture teams, overseeing its technology roadmap and strategy, the company said in a statement.

“Swaminathan’s experience aligns exceptionally well with our commitment to deliver products that provide rapid impact and real returns on AI investment,” said Freshworks’ chief executive and president Dennis Woodside.

“Our talented global engineering and architecture teams are pivotal to meeting this goal and I look forward to working with them to continue driving innovation and delivering exceptional products that meet the evolving needs of our customers,” Swaminathan said.

Previously, Swaminathan held leadership roles at several global technology companies, including ServiceNow, Recommind (now OpenText) and CA Technologies (now part of Broadcom Inc). 

At ServiceNow, he served as vice president of engineering, overseeing the company’s IT service management and strategic portfolio management products.

Founded in 2010 by Girish Mathrubootham and Shanmugam Krishnasamy, Freshworks offers a suite of software for customer service and support, customer engagement and IT service management. The company went public on the NASDAQ in September 2021, raising $1.03 Bn in its initial public offering.

Freshworks, which serves more than 68,000 customers globally, including American Express, Bridgestone, and Sony, is aiming to achieve a revenue target of $1 Bn by 2026. 

This appointment comes amid a series of leadership changes at Freshworks. In May, chief executive Girish Mathrubootham stepped down to become executive chairman, with Dennis Woodside taking over as CEO. Last month saw the resignation of chief product officer (CPO) Srinivasagopalan Ramamurthy.

Despite these moves, Freshworks has maintained strong financial performance. In Q2 2024, the company reported a 19% year-over-year increase in revenue to $145.1 Mn. The number of customers contributing more than $5,000 in annual recurring revenue grew 17% year-over-year to 19,105.

You have reached your limit of free stories
Become An Inc42 Plus Member

Become a Startup Insider in 2024 with Inc42 Plus. Join our exclusive community of 10,000+ founders, investors & operators and stay ahead in India’s startup & business economy.

2 YEAR PLAN
₹19999
₹7999
₹333/Month
Unlock 60% OFF
Cancel Anytime
1 YEAR PLAN
₹9999
₹4999
₹416/Month
Unlock 50% OFF
Cancel Anytime
Already A Member?
Discover Startups & Business Models

Unleash your potential by exploring unlimited articles, trackers, and playbooks. Identify the hottest startup deals, supercharge your innovation projects, and stay updated with expert curation.

Freshworks Names Former ServiceNow Executive Murali Swaminathan As CTO-Inc42 Media
How-To’s on Starting & Scaling Up

Empower yourself with comprehensive playbooks, expert analysis, and invaluable insights. Learn to validate ideas, acquire customers, secure funding, and navigate the journey to startup success.

Freshworks Names Former ServiceNow Executive Murali Swaminathan As CTO-Inc42 Media
Identify Trends & New Markets

Access 75+ in-depth reports on frontier industries. Gain exclusive market intelligence, understand market landscapes, and decode emerging trends to make informed decisions.

Freshworks Names Former ServiceNow Executive Murali Swaminathan As CTO-Inc42 Media
Track & Decode the Investment Landscape

Stay ahead with startup and funding trackers. Analyse investment strategies, profile successful investors, and keep track of upcoming funds, accelerators, and more.

Freshworks Names Former ServiceNow Executive Murali Swaminathan As CTO-Inc42 Media
Freshworks Names Former ServiceNow Executive Murali Swaminathan As CTO-Inc42 Media
You’re in Good company