Firstup Strengthens Leadership Team to Drive Innovation and Enhance Customer Success

Firstup, the frontrunner in intelligent communication and engagement platforms, has recently announced the appointment of Vinod Malhotra as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Jen Franklin as Senior Vice President of Customer Value. These appointments are expected to significantly propel Firstup's commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction in the workforce communication space.

Advancing Innovation with Tech Acumen

In his new role as CTO, Vinod Malhotra will helm the Engineering, AI/ML, CloudOps, and Support teams at Firstup. His responsibility will be to ensure delivery of an enterprise-grade platform with high availability and scalability. With a wealth of experience exceeding 25 years, Malhotra has driven transformative growth and innovation at leading organizations, notably achieving remarkable revenue expansion at BlackLine and earning accolades for AI developments at Perceptyx.

"Vinod comes to Firstup at a pivotal moment. His extensive experience and leadership in product-oriented technology will bolster our position as an innovator in the market," stated Bill Schuh, CEO of Firstup. Malhotra's stellar reputation for engineering excellence will serve to maintain both the quality and trust that Firstup's customers have come to expect.

Enhancing Customer Value with Strategic Leadership

Joining him is Jen Franklin, who will head the global Customer Value team. Her role is crucial in ensuring that Firstup's clients can effectively adopt innovative solutions to drive business results. With a deep understanding of the employee engagement landscape, Franklin aims to foster an integrated strategy that enhances customer success.

"Jen’s insights into customer operations, coupled with her passion for solving business challenges, make her an invaluable asset to our team," remarked Schuh. Previously, Franklin excelled at Medallia, where she led strategic initiatives spanning Customer Experience, Product, and Sales in addition to her work with Employee Experience product lines. Her expertise spans notable positions at organizations such as League and Taleo, further solidifying her position as a leader in driving customer needs.

Foundation for Future Growth and Innovation

The recent leadership appointments come in conjunction with Firstup’s ongoing commitment to innovation and talent acquisition. This strategic move is intended to ensure that Firstup’s platform evolves in line with customer requirements while also serving as a catalyst for essential business outcomes—such as improved employee engagement, operational efficiency, productivity, and revenue growth.

As Firstup continues to expand its talented workforce, Schuh stated, "These moves represent significant progress in our mission, equipping us for long-term success. Both Vinod and Jen possess the leadership capabilities necessary to bolster our innovation roadmap and positively influence the landscape of employee communications and engagement in the workforce."

About Firstup

Firstup delivers a top-tier platform designed for intelligent communication and engagement, responsible for creating meaningful business outcomes. The company serves as a mission control for workforce communications, particularly for organizations that rely heavily on frontline employees. By providing hyper-personalized, data-driven communication experiences across various channels—such as email, mobile, and intranet—Firstup is committed to aligning messages with the right audience at the right moment. Through integrations with essential HR, IT, and business systems, Firstup not only reduces digital noise but also surfaces actionable insights that enhance employee experience, productivity, and retention.

In an evolving workforce landscape, Firstup remains trusted by numerous large enterprises worldwide, actively transforming internal communication into tangible, measurable impact. To learn more about Firstup and its innovative solutions, visit www.firstup.io.