Planful's New Chief Customer Officer Aims to Enrich Client Experience

Planful People Leadership: Richard Parke as New CCO

San Francisco, November 17, 2025 – Planful Inc., a leader in financial performance management through cloud software, has taken a significant step in its commitment to enhancing customer experience by appointing Richard Parke as the Chief Customer Officer (CCO). With over two decades of experience in building successful customer-oriented organizations, Parke brings a wealth of knowledge from his previous roles, including notable tenures at Avetta and Convergys (now Concentrix).

Planful has been making substantial investments in customer-facing programs in 2025. This includes doubling the size of their Account Relationship team and tripling their technical resources. A highlight of these initiatives is the launch of the One-Touch Customer Portal, which allows customers immediate access to expert knowledge and assistance. Additionally, they introduced a premium offering called Planful Admin Managed Services (PAMS), offering clients dedicated specialists to facilitate the management and optimization of their Planful environment.

John Herr, CEO of Planful, expressed that Parke's appointment reflects the company's dedication to providing exceptional customer support as it expands its global footprint. Herr remarked, "Richard’s extensive experience leading customer operations globally and his proficiency in nurturing customer-centric organizations will elevate our customer programs to new heights. His emphasis on customer success is crucial as we navigate this growth phase and assist finance teams in addressing complex challenges."

Having previously collaborated with Herr at Avetta, Parke has an impressive track record managing customer success, professional services, retention, and expansion across global teams. His strategic vision is steered toward ensuring clients derive the maximum value from the Planful platform, an innovation that is reshaping the operational dynamics of finance teams.

"I am excited to join Planful at such a pivotal time in its growth journey and help amplify our global reach," Parke stated. "Planful's innovative solutions are set to transform the workplace of finance teams, and I am committed to ensuring our customers reap the full benefits of our offerings. Building on the successful programs already in place, we will tailor our customer operations to align with the evolving needs of our diverse clientele."

This transition also marks Melissa Dreuth's return to her role as Chief People Officer and Chief of Staff to the CEO, where she had temporarily overseen customer operations while continuing her other responsibilities.

As CCO, Parke will guide the engagement with over 1,500 customers during a critical period of rapid growth. Recent developments at Planful include the unveiling of the Analyst Assistant features aimed at relieving financial teams from manual analysis tasks, offering speedy insights, thus allowing finance professionals to devote more time to strategic roles.

About Planful

Planful is recognized as a pioneer in cloud-based financial performance management software. Its robust platform aids businesses around the globe in streamlining planning, budgeting, consolidations, reporting, and analytics. The company's groundbreaking AI capabilities enable faster decision-making, supporting over 1,500 customers in more than 100 countries, including notable names like Bose, Boston Red Sox, and Five Guys. Backed by Vector Capital, a leading global private equity firm, Planful continues to position itself at the forefront of financial technology innovations, making it essential for businesses striving for operational excellence.

For additional information on how Planful can support various teams across finance, marketing, and HR, visit planful.com. Join the conversation online through LinkedIn, X, or Facebook.