Salesforce has appointed Miguel Milano as its new operating chief, marking another strategic expansion of its leadership structure under CEO Marc Benioff. This promotion comes as the company navigates significant market headwinds, with its shares falling due to broader concerns about AI’s impact on cloud software vendors. Milano, who previously served as chief revenue officer and an Oracle executive, will work alongside current Chief Operating and Financial Officer Robin Washington, as Salesforce pushes forward with its “Agentforce AI” services and continues a recent trend of accelerating revenue growth.
In a significant leadership shake-up, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has appointed Miguel Milano as the company's new operating chief. This move signals a renewed effort to broaden the leadership talent at the tech giant, which Benioff co-founded in 1999.
Miguel Milano, President and Chief Revenue Officer at Salesforce. Courtesy: Salesforce
Milano, a familiar face at Salesforce and a former Oracle executive, rejoined the company as chief revenue officer in 2023. His previous tenure at Salesforce in Europe spanned from 2011 to 2020, followed by a three-year stint as chief revenue officer at data processing firm Celonis. His return and subsequent promotion reflect a strategic strengthening of the executive team.
This latest appointment follows a period of experimentation with co-CEOs at Salesforce, with both Keith Block and Bret Taylor eventually departing after sharing the top role with Benioff. Last year, Salesforce also brought board member Robin Washington into a dual role as chief operating and financial officer, a title she will retain even as Milano steps into the COO position.
The executive changes occur against a turbulent market backdrop. Salesforce shares have shed 27% this year, mirroring a broader downturn in software stocks. Investors are increasingly concerned that the rise of artificial intelligence could disrupt established cloud software vendors. In response, Salesforce has been aggressively promoting its "Agentforce AI" services, designed to automate various tasks, and has seen its revenue growth accelerate after several quarters below 10%.
Further leadership shifts include the departure of Srini Tallapragada, president and chief engineering and customer success officer, after 14 years. Rohan Kumar, a veteran Microsoft executive who joined Salesforce in June, will now serve as chief platform and engineering officer, taking on new engineering responsibilities. Tallapragada will transition to a special advisor role to Benioff for the next year to assist with the handover, as detailed in a recent regulatory filing.
According to a regulatory filing, Milano was the fourth-highest-paid Salesforce executive in the 2026 fiscal year, behind Benioff, Washington, and Tallapragada. Alexa Vignone, a decade-long Salesforce veteran who assumed the role of chief sales officer in January, will now take on the title of revenue chief, indicating a clear succession plan for key revenue-generating roles.
With annualized revenue from Agentforce surpassing $1 billion, executives noted in May that Salesforce is actively leveraging AI to drive future growth, despite the prevailing market skepticism.
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