NU Advisory Recruits Chief Marketing Officer for M-Files
September 5, 2025 – NU Advisory Partners has assisted in the recruitment of Debbie Umbach as chief marketing officer of M-Files, a Austin, TX-based provider of AI-native document management. “We’re thrilled to welcome Debbie to the team,” said Jay Bhatt, CEO of M-Files. “Her deep expertise across the entire marketing lifecycle, from building growth engines to elevating global brand presence, comes at a pivotal moment for M-Files. As we advance AI-powered product innovation and extend our leadership as the first document management system to offer the native capabilities of Microsoft 365, Debbie will play a critical role in shaping how we deliver even greater efficiency and business value for our customers, partners, and the broader market.”
Ms. Umbach brings a proven track record of driving double- and triple-digit revenue growth for leading technology companies through comprehensive marketing strategies. She most recently served as CMO of Own, which was acquired by Salesforce for its data loss and risk management solutions suite, and previously held senior global marketing leadership roles at Dynatrace and Bitsight.
“M-Files has long been at the forefront of pairing trailblazing AI with intuitive, metadata-driven document management,” said Ms. Umbach. “Now, with this strategic partnership that is unique in the document management industry, the company is redefining how enterprises collaborate, govern, and extract value from their content. I’m excited to lead our global marketing strategy to showcase this transformation, fuel growth, and amplify the M-Files brand worldwide. Our mission is clear: help organizations achieve greater productivity, reduce risk, and make smarter decisions every day.”
M-Files is reshaping document management as the first vendor to offer native Microsoft 365 capabilities. This solution helps Microsoft 365 organizations seeking to maximize their Microsoft investments, ensuring smarter collaboration, automated governance, and measurable productivity gains. Ms. Umbach’s appointment underscores M-Files’ commitment to scaling this new joint offering and the Microsoft partnership worldwide and driving broader market adoption.
In 2023, NU Advisory Partners was launched by former Russell Reynolds Associates recruiters Mar Hernandez, Libby Naumes, Meredith Rosenberg, and Nada Usina. The firm is focused on senior executive, operating, and board positions.
Proven Search Consultants
Ms. Hernandez is a trusted advisor to top executives and a global expert in corporate officer placements (CHRO, CFO, GC) across financial services, fintech, telecom, and hospitality. Prior to co-founding NU, she was a senior leader in the corporate officers, DE&I, and financial services practice at Russell Reynolds Associates, where she co-led the Hispanic Board Initiative. With over a decade in search and prior leadership roles in global firms, she has partnered with private equity firms and Fortune 500 companies to build high-performing leadership teams.
Related: NU Advisory Partners Assists Paciolan with President Search
Ms. Naumes specializes in placing go-to-market and commercial leaders across sports, media, entertainment, technology, consumer, retail, and marketplace industries. Prior to co-founding NU, she spent 11 years at Russell Reynolds Associates, where she built the consumer digital practice and co-led the global sports practice, working with major brands and leagues worldwide. Previously, she was director of marketing and communications for NASDAQ’s Global Corporate Solutions Group.
Ms. Rosenberg is a market-leading voice in edTech, where she leverages over 25 years of experience in the education sector. A recognized leader, she is known for her innovative approach and commitment to accessibility and inclusivity. At NU, Ms. Rosenberg guides public and private companies, investors, universities, and nonprofits in navigating the evolving education landscape.
Before co-founding NU, Ms. Rosenberg led the global edTech practice at Russell Reynolds Associates. Her career is marked by her ability to challenge conventional thinking. She has held key roles at a number of tech and edTech-focused companies and she holds several board roles including The Perkins School, Cornell University Brooks School of Public Policy, and The Fletcher School at Tufts. She is also a former trustee of Cornell University. Her thought leadership and advocacy are informative as well as transformative, driving meaningful conversations about the future of work and education at industry events.
Ms. Usina is a recognized industry leader in board, CEO, and C-suite placements across technology, sports, media, entertainment, and industrial sectors. Prior to co-founding NU, she was on the executive committee at Russell Reynolds Associates, where she led the global technology, media, entertainment, and sports practices, shaping leadership across these industries. With over 15 years in executive search, Ms. Usina is a trusted advisor to leading PE and VC firms, Fortune 500 companies, CEOs, and boards on leadership, succession planning, and board composition. She’s held executive roles at Nokia, broadcast.com—which IPO’d and was acquired by Yahoo!, where she later held an executive role—and Comcast Ventures-backed XOS Technologies, which she successfully sold and merged with NeuLion. Ms. Usina also played key leadership roles with the Florida Sports Foundation, the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, and Florida State University Athletics.
Related: NU Advisory Partners Completes Searches for Mission Lane and Insigneo
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
