Caldwell Recruits Chief Marketing Officer for Mavenlink
August 27, 2020 – As business becomes more global and complex, and power shifts from producers of goods and services to consumers, the chief marketing officer’s job of planning and coordinating marketing activities has become more challenging — and much more influential. Mercedes Chatfield-Taylor, managing partner of the private equity and venture capital practice at Caldwell, recently placed Robert Pickell as chief marketing officer of Mavenlink, a provider of cloud-based software for the modern services organization.
“Rob’s experience in senior leadership roles across a range of technology companies at different growth stages provides additional depth and perspective to our already formidable leadership team,” said Ray Grainger, co-founder and CEO of Mavenlink. “His broad functional experience will help us further align and coordinate our efforts as we work to achieve our goals for customer success, category leadership, and growth.”
Mr. Pickell is a veteran software executive who has helped build multiple $100+ million technology companies. He joins Mavenlink from Kareo, where he directed the company’s growth strategy and execution as it progressed from start-up to market leader supplying cloud-based healthcare technology solutions. Before Kareo, he was CMO at HireRight where he helped build the company from a niche supplier into a $300+ million SaaS human capital management global leader. Earlier experiences include leadership positions at Quantum Corp., Stamps.com, and Verizon Wireless, as well as time as a management consultant.
As Mavenlink’s CMO, Mr. Pickell will lead the development and execution of Mavenlink’s global marketing strategy. Working together with the marketing organization and leadership team, he will bolster Mavenlink’s strong market position, sharpen the company’s differentiated value proposition, and grow its customer base.
“Cloud-based platforms focused on industry verticals are reshaping entire industries and Mavenlink is poised to do this for services organizations,” said Mr. Pickell. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to join this amazing company and help make its vision for delivering innovative solutions that will change the trajectory and success of service organizations globally a reality.”
Mavenlink is the modern software platform for professional and marketing services organizations. The company helps services firms establish an operational system of record that facilitates their business lifecycle, including key capabilities like resource management, project management, collaboration, project accounting, and business intelligence.
Proven Recruiter
Ms. Chatfield-Taylor is a member of Caldwell’s technology, consumer, digital and media teams. She focuses on executive-level search for high-growth technology companies, with deep expertise in business-to-business, SaaS, social, eCommerce, gaming and other transformative technologies. She has completed more than 50 CEO searches as well as other C-level assignments for her clients, with a deep passion and expertise in helping to diversify VC and PE-backed company boards and leadership teams. Ms. Chatfield-Taylor recently filled the CEO positions for Stack Overflow and Stoplight IO.
Related: Hobbs & Towne Recruits Chief Marketing Officer for HomeWorks Energy
“Mercedes is the foremost search professional in the high-growth technology venture capital sector today,” said John Wallace, chief executive officer of Caldwell. “Her reputation for her relentless drive, client commitment and impeccable execution precedes her.”
Chief Marketing Officers Gaining Momentum As Business Game Changers
Today’s CMO works with the CEO to accelerate the organization and drive transformation. CMOs also collaborate with other members of the C-suite, especially with a company’s top HR executive to shape the company brand.
“For years, Mercedes has served in an advisory capacity to a roster of top-tier venture capital and private-equity firms, assisting her clients and their portfolio companies in recruiting leaders focused on value creation,” he said. “She is comfortable serving as a behind-the-scenes executive coach to early stage founders and as a trusted advisor to public company boards of directors.”
Chief Marketing Officers
As business becomes more global and complex, and power shifts from producers of goods and services to consumers, the chief marketing officer’s job of planning and coordinating marketing activities has become more challenging, recruiters say. Yet executive search firms are seeing no shortage of assignments for this important C-level position.
Current business landscape demands have only increased the contribution from CMOs, according to the latest research report from Forrester and Heidrick & Struggles. The survey found that CMOs are building strong relationships with the head of product and research and development to prepare their organizations for digital disruption.
“We see CMOs moving beyond functional expertise to assume responsibility for driving overall growth within their organizations,” said Sheryl Pattek, vice president, CMO executive partner at Forrester. “They are evolving into key strategic partners on the executive team, and know that collaboration with the rest of the C-suite will be instrumental to their success.”
Related: The Lancer Group Places Chief Marketing Officer for NAVEX Global
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
