NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES – NICE Ltd., a cloud-based software provider, has announced the appointment of Scott Russel as its new chief executive officer, effective January 25, 2025.
Russel will take over from Barak Eilam, who is set to retire by the end of 2024 after a decade-long tenure as CEO and 25 years with the company.
Russel brings over 25 years of experience in the enterprise software industry, having held senior positions at SAP, where he was Global Chief Revenue Officer. During his 14 years at SAP, Russel played a key role in mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and was responsible for $31 billion in revenue as he led the company’s transition to cloud-based services.
Prior to SAP, Russel held positions at IBM and PwC. He will be based in NICE’s Hoboken, New Jersey, office.
“I am honored to take on the role of CEO at such an exciting time for NICE,” Russel said. “I am highly impressed by the culture of the company, the innovative product portfolio, and its strong global presence and leadership position.”
“I look forward to working with the talented team at NICE to continue to build on the heritage and success NICE has had over the last decade and lead the company into its next phase of growth.”
David Kostman, chairman of the Board of Directors at NICE, expressed confidence in Russel’s ability to lead the company forward. “His extensive enterprise software experience in adjacent markets and leadership at global scale will be instrumental as he leads NICE through its next phase of growth,” Kostman stated.
“I am confident that Scott’s background, personality, energy, and drive, will take NICE to new heights as we continue to execute on our platform strategy leveraging cloud, digital and AI.”
Current CEO Barak Eilam expressed a similar view, stating that the company is in an excellent position for a smooth change in leadership, as the company had achieved propelled rapid growth, attained impressive profitability, and established a solid recurring revenue stream.
“With such a strong foundation, NICE is well-positioned for a leadership transition, and I am confident it will continue to thrive under Scott’s leadership,” he stated.
