Planful Inc., the trailblazer in financial performance management cloud software, has named John Herr as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Herr, a board member since 2019, steps into the role following Grant Halloran's six-year tenure, bringing extensive expertise in scaling high-growth SaaS enterprises to guide Planful through its next expansion phase amid a competitive global market.
John Herr's appointment leverages his deep familiarity with Planful, gained over six years on the board where he influenced corporate strategy, market outreach, and innovations including Planful AI. With more than 30 years in enterprise software, Herr has a proven history of driving transformational growth, from elevating Adaptive Insights to a financial planning category leader to expanding Avetta's global footprint. This experience positions him ideally to navigate Planful's evolution as a financially strong, Rule of 40 company serving diverse sectors worldwide.
“John has scaled software companies serving global enterprises and mid-market organizations alike. His track record leading Avetta, Adaptive Insights, and Arcoro demonstrates his ability to create value for all the companies’ stakeholders,” said Alex Slusky, Chairman of Planful’s Board, Founder of Vector Capital, Planful’s largest shareholder. “John’s experience, combined with his six years on Planful’s Board, makes him exceptionally well prepared to lead Planful’s next phase of growth.”
Under Herr's guidance, Planful will emphasize AI-driven enhancements to streamline finance operations, ensuring clients achieve quicker closes, reduced cycle times, and heightened accuracy in planning and reporting.
Herr's leadership will center on amplifying Planful's AI capabilities, which already empower over 1,500 customers—including Bose, Boston Red Sox, and Five Guys—in more than 100 countries. The platform's comprehensive suite addresses core finance needs through budgeting, consolidations, analytics, and reporting, fostering peak performance across business units. By prioritizing global scaling and exceptional service, Herr aims to solidify Planful's role as an indispensable tool for finance leaders tackling complex, data-intensive challenges.
“I’ve enjoyed the last 6 years with Planful and look forward to working more closely with our strong team to scale Planful to the next level,” said Herr. “Planful is a Rule of 40 company that is growing, profitable, and financially strong. It has over 1,500 customers in over 100 countries and offers a unique platform that addresses critical needs for finance leaders around the world. My focus will be on our AI innovation, our global expansion, and world-class service delivery to our customers.”
This strategic emphasis aligns with Planful's backing from Vector Capital, enabling sustained investment in technology that drives productivity and decision-making for enterprises of all sizes.
Planful's transition to Herr's stewardship marks a pivotal moment, blending seasoned leadership with innovative AI to propel the company toward broader market dominance and enduring stakeholder value in the evolving financial software landscape.
Planful is the pioneer of financial performance management cloud software. The Planful platform, which helps businesses drive peak financial performance, is used around the globe to streamline business-wide planning, budgeting, consolidations, reporting, and analytics. Planful’s award-winning AI capabilities accelerate decision-making, helping Planful users in over 100 countries to close faster, accelerate cycle times, increase productivity, and improve accuracy. Planful is a private company with more than 1,500 customers, including Bose, Boston Red Sox, Five Guys, Grafton Plc, Gousto, and Specialized, and is backed by Vector Capital, a leading global private equity firm.
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