Nextiva, the leading business conversation platform, has appointed Senthil Velayutham as its new Chief Product and Technology Officer (CPTO). Velayutham brings over a decade of experience in product and technology, including his role in building market-leading products such as Microsoft Teams. This announcement comes following Nextiva’s recent acquisition of Simplify360, a prominent AI customer experience platform.
Based in Bangalore, India, Nextiva aims to revolutionize the way businesses connect and engage with their customers and teams. With Velayutham at the helm of its global engineering, product, and technology teams, the company is poised for further growth and innovation.
Velayutham has held various leadership positions throughout his career. Most recently, he served as the Chief Product & Technology Officer at Trader Interactive, a company acquired by carsales.com and backed by Goldman Sachs and Eurazeo. Prior to that, Velayutham made significant contributions to Microsoft’s product lineup, particularly Microsoft Teams, Skype for Business, Microsoft Search & AI, and Microsoft Roundtable. Notably, as the CTO/Chief Architect for Microsoft Teams, he played a key role in scaling the product to an impressive 13 million daily active users in 53 languages and across more than 180 countries.
Tomas Gorny, the Co-founder and CEO of Nextiva, expressed his enthusiasm about Velayutham’s appointment, stating that he is the ideal leader with a deep passion for customer-driven innovation. Gorny believes that Velayutham’s exceptional track record in developing market-leading products and leading globally effective teams makes him the perfect fit for Nextiva’s growth plans.
Velayutham shares Nextiva’s belief that customer experience is the cornerstone of business success. With the company’s vision to provide industry-leading solutions that enable businesses of all sizes to understand, engage, and delight their customers across multiple channels, he is excited to join forces with Tomas and the team to make Nextiva’s vision a reality worldwide.
Nextiva’s recent acquisition of Simplify360, an AI customer experience platform, has also expanded its reach into the Asia-Pacific market. As the company continues to support more businesses globally, this strategic move positions Nextiva as a key player in the industry. Furthermore, Nextiva recently secured $200 million in funding from Goldman Sachs Asset Management, valuing the company at $2.7 billion, further reinforcing its position and indicating its potential for future success.
In conclusion, Nextiva’s appointment of Senthil Velayutham as CPTO promises an exciting future for the company. With his extensive experience in product and technology, Velayutham is well-equipped to lead Nextiva’s engineering, product, and technology teams, driving innovation and delivering industry-leading solutions. As Nextiva expands its presence globally and continues to prioritize customer experience, businesses of all sizes stand to benefit from the company’s transformative offerings.
