Asana to replace CEO

Collaboration software developer Asana has announced the appointment of a new CEO. Starting July 21, the company will be led by Dan Rogers, a top manager with experience in LaunchDarkly, Rubrik, ServiceNow, as well as in Amazon Web Services, Microsoft and Salesforce. He will replace Asana co-founder Dustin Moskowitz, who previously announced his resignation from the executive position, but will continue to work in the company as chairman of the board of directors.

The new head of Asana leaves the post of CEO at the startup LaunchDarkly, specializing in software development for the gradual implementation of code updates. Rogers joined LaunchDarkly in 2023, after a three-year leadership role at Rubrik, a data management company. His track record also includes key marketing roles at ServiceNow and Symantec.

Under the terms of the contract with Asana, Rogers will receive an annual base salary of $650,000. He will also receive $35 million in restricted shares and will be eligible for an annual bonus of the same amount. By comparison, outgoing CEO Dustin Moskowitz has received a symbolic $5 compensation for the past five fiscal years.

The decision to change management coincides with the strategic transformation phase of Asana. The company relies on integrating artificial intelligence tools into its products. According to the quarterly report, the second quarter of fiscal year 2025 showed strong demand for the AI Studio platform, with revenue reaching $1 million year-on-year.

"Now artificial intelligence is changing the very nature of work, and Asana has a chance to become a leader in this transformation. Dan has the necessary experience and strategic thinking to lead the company forward, " Moskowitz said in an official statement.

After going public through a direct listing in 2020, Asana's shares showed rapid growth during the pandemic, but have since sunk significantly. Since peaking at $142.68 per share in November 2021, the stock price has declined to $12.93 at the close of trading on the day the CEO change was announced. Over-the-counter trading showed no changes. Moskowitz currently owns about 39% of the company's shares, according to FactSet.

LaunchDarkly also announced a management reshuffle: Chief Revenue Officer Markus Holm will become president of the startup, and LaunchDarkly co-founder Edith Harbaugh will return to active operations while the board of directors looks for a new permanent CEO.

In an official comment, LaunchDarkly expressed its appreciation for Rogers ' contribution to the company's development: "We are grateful for Dan's strategic leadership and his role in scaling the business."