Change at the top of RingCentral with new CEO

Outgoing chief exec Vlad Shmunis managed to close a successful Q2 before announcing his departure

RingCentral has announced that Tarek Robbiati (pictured) has been appointed as its new chief executive officer, effective August 28, 2023.

Robbiati has been a member of the cloud-based communications provider's board of directors since December 2022 and will remain a member in his new role.

He brings nearly three decades of experience to RingCentral, whose UK channel partners include FourNet, Simplify IT Solutions, and TechVertu, within the telecom, media, technology and financial services industries.

Since 2018, Robbiati has served as CFO and EVP of finance and strategy for HPE where he was involved in driving the pivot of the vendor's portfolio to higher-growth, higher-margin areas.

Prior to HPE, Robbiati was CFO at Sprint Corp. where he led the company's strategic efforts to reposition the business.

Robbiati also held numerous leadership positions, including CEO roles at publicly listed and private companies in Australia and Hong Kong.

"The world and how we communicate is rapidly changing and this is an exciting time for RingCentral," said Robbiati.

"We are at the forefront of our industry, developing differentiated, cutting-edge solutions to meet the emerging needs of our customers.

"My focus will be on our customers and delivering operational excellence and sustainable, profitable growth. I am honoured to take on the CEO role and deliver value to all our stakeholders."

Outgoing RingCentral CEO

Current RingCentral CEO and founder Vlad Shmunis will transition to the role of executive chairman with a focus on driving the company's strategic product vision and innovation.

Under Shmunis' leadership, RingCentral has become a recognised industry leader in cloud communications, with more than $2.2bn in annual revenues, 400,000 customers, 15,000 channel partners and approximately 4,000 full time employees, it claims.

In its recent results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023, the enterprise cloud communications vendor saw revenues climb 11 per cent to $539m.

"When I founded RingCentral two decades ago, we were a tiny, unfunded startup with an ambitious mission to improve how businesses around the world communicate internally and with their customers," Shmunis said.

"From those humble beginnings, we have become a recognised leader in our space and one of the largest pure-play SaaS companies in the world.

"My plan is to stay engaged in the company, while dedicating most of my time to innovation, product development and long-term strategy. I am excited for the road ahead."

RingCentral also announced that Mo Katibeh, president and chief operating officer, will be stepping down but will remain a special advisor to the company.