Workday, Inc. has announced that co-founder and current executive chair Aneel Bhusri is returning as chief executive officer, effective immediately, to lead the company into its next phase centered on AI innovation. Carl Eschenbach is stepping down as CEO and board member after three years of guiding Workday through global expansion, operational strengthening, and foundational AI progress; he will remain as a strategic advisor to Bhusri.
Quick Intel
Workday, a leading enterprise AI platform for HR, finance, and agent management, is entering a transformative period with the return of co-founder Aneel Bhusri as CEO. This leadership transition underscores the company's strategic emphasis on capitalizing on AI's potential to redefine enterprise software.
Bhusri, who co-founded Workday with Dave Duffield, assumes the CEO role to steer the organization through what he describes as a pivotal AI-driven shift—larger in impact than the SaaS era. He will work closely with presidents Gerrit Kazmaier and Rob Enslin to advance Workday's intelligent platform, which unifies people and financial management with AI at its core.
Mark Hawkins, Workday vice chair and lead independent director, commented: "Aneel and Dave Duffield founded Workday with a belief that work could be done differently, and they built one of the most innovative companies in enterprise software. As we enter a defining moment shaped by AI, there is no one better than Aneel to lead this next chapter. His vision, conviction, and deep connection to Workday's culture will position the company to continue to lead in a changing landscape."
Hawkins also acknowledged Eschenbach's contributions: "Carl stepped in at a pivotal time and helped Workday mature into a more global, disciplined organization. He strengthened the company's operational foundation while leading with integrity and heart. We're grateful for his leadership and the impact he's had on the company. And we're pleased that he will continue to support Aneel and the company as a strategic advisor."
Aneel Bhusri said: "I'm deeply grateful to Carl for leading Workday through an important chapter — scaling the company, building on our foundation, and positioning us well for what's ahead. We're now entering one of the most pivotal moments in our history. AI is a bigger transformation than SaaS — and it will define the next generation of market leaders. I'm energized to return as CEO, working alongside our presidents Gerrit Kazmaier and Rob Enslin, and I'm excited about the opportunity in front of us."
Carl Eschenbach added: "It's been a privilege to serve as CEO over the past three years and I'm proud of all we achieved — instilling greater operational discipline, expanding globally, broadening our industry focus, and laying meaningful groundwork in AI. I could not be more grateful to Aneel and to our board for the trust they placed in me to lead this special company, and I look forward to supporting Aneel and Workday in this next chapter."
In tandem with the leadership update, Workday confirmed that its fiscal 2026 fourth quarter and full-year financial results remain on track with prior guidance (as provided November 25, 2025), except for the previously disclosed GAAP operating margin adjustment noted in the February 4, 2026 Form 8-K. The company will report complete results after market close on February 24, 2026.
This transition positions Workday to accelerate its AI-centric roadmap while leveraging its established platform trusted by more than 11,000 organizations worldwide, including over 65% of the Fortune 500.
About Workday
Workday is the enterprise AI platform for managing people, money, and agents. Workday unifies HR and finance on one intelligent platform with AI at the core to empower people at every level with the clarity, confidence, and insights they need to adapt quickly, make better decisions, and deliver outcomes that matter. Workday is used by more than 11,000 organizations around the world and across industries – from medium-sized businesses to more than 65% of the Fortune 500.
TechIntelPro empowers B2B technology decision-makers with the latest industry trends, deep insights, leadership perspectives and actionable intelligence to drive both organizational and professional milestones—and thrive on the tech pulse.