Workday names former VMware executive as its new co-CEO

Enterprise cloud application specialist Workday has announced the appointment of Carl Eschenbach as its new co-CEO, effective immediately.

The former VMware executive will serve alongside the company’s current CEO Aneel Bhusri until the end of Workday’s next financial year in January 2024. From then, the firm said it expects Eschenbach to assume sole CEO responsibilities, with Bhusri to move to a full-time role as executive chair and continue as chair for the board of directors.

Eschenbach brings 35 years’ experience in leading successful technology companies. Notably, he helped VMware scale its business to more than $7 billion in total revenue during his 14-year tenure.

He assumed various leadership roles at the virtual infrastructure software provider - including as president, chief operating officer, acting chief financial officer, and executive vice president of worldwide field operations.

Since 2016, he has been a partner at venture capital firm Sequoia Capital, working closely with high-growth enterprise software organisations, and will continue to be involved in a venture partner capacity.

At Workday, Eschenbach replaces outgoing co-CEO Chano Fernandez, who has stepped down from the role with immediate effect.

"We have an incredible opportunity in front of us and I'm confident that Carl, with his leadership skills and his proven experience in helping technology companies scale, as well as his commitment to culture and values, will help lead Workday through its next phase of growth," said Aneel Bhusri, co-CEO, co-founder and chair at Workday.

"Chano has been an integral part of Workday since he joined almost nine years ago and has helped us to achieve great success and growth. We thank him for his many contributions."

Founded in 2005, Workday specialises in providing enterprise cloud applications for finance and human resources. The California-headquartered firm has grown to provide its software to thousands of businesses around the world – including more than half of the Fortune 500 – and currently boasts a staff base of around 17,500.

Commenting on his appointment as co-CEO, Eschenbach highlighted Workday’s “values-based approach to leadership” and its “relentless focus on customer service and innovation”.

“This has helped differentiate Workday, driving its growth and success in supporting some of the world's largest organisations," he said. "I'm thrilled to be expanding my role at Workday and working with Aneel, the rest of the leadership team, and our amazing group of employees to help us build on this great momentum and take hold of the massive opportunity in front of us."