Optify, a Seattle startup specializing in marketing software, has named 25-year- marketing vet Doug Wheeler to the position of chief marketing officer. Wheeler most recently worked at TappIn, which was acquired last year for up to $17 million by GlobalScape. Wheeler previously held executive roles at DocuSign, Citrix and Compaq.
“Optify and its inbound marketing software have become a standard and relied upon component in the busy B2B marketer’s arsenal of solutions,” said Wheeler in a press release. “As a lifelong professional marketer, I’m eager to have a leadership role in a company that delivers a simple, incredibly valuable software solution to other professional marketers.
The appointment follows the hiring of Rob Eleveld, who joined Optify as CEO in May. Optify is backed by Madrona Venture Group.
Cisco Systems CEO John Chambers tells Bloomberg that he may retire in the next two to four years, moving to the role of chairman. Chambers is 63 and has served as CEO since 1995. He says the networking giant has a list of as many as 10 possible candidates who could fill his shoes, including Gary Moore, chief operating officer, Robert Lloyd, executive vice president of worldwide operations, Chuck Robbins, senior vice president of the Americas, and Edzard Overbeek, senior vice president of global services.
Auction Edge, the Seattle startup which is looking to transform the way automobiles are sold at auction, has named former Starbucks executive Scott Heydon to the position of senior vice president of strategy and operations. At Starbucks, Heydon led the coffee retailer’s global strategy team, reporting directly to the CEO. Led by entrepreneur David Weld, Auction Edge has quickly grown this year through a series of acquisitions. Heydon previously had served as an adviser to the company.
Executive changes continue at Yahoo under Marissa Mayer. The company has named former Fortinent executive Ken Goldman as CFO, replacing CFO Tim Morse. “Ken is one of the most accomplished and respected financial executives in the technology industry having served as a CFO for more than 25 years, and we’re thrilled to have him join Yahoo,” Mayer said in a statement. The New York Times speculates that the hiring of Goldman could signal more M&A activity for Yahoo.
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