On December 5, GitLab Inc., the most comprehensive DevSecOps platform, announced that Bill Staples was named CEO and would be a member of the company’s board of directors, effective immediately. Co-founder and former CEO Sid Sijbrandij stepped down from his role as he battles a rare form of cancer, though he will transition to serve as the executive chair of GitLab’s board of directors.
Welcoming Staples as the Next GitLab CEO
As he stepped down, Sijbranji expressed confidence in Staples’ capabilities and the smoothness of the transition. He acknowledged that Staples’ consistent dedication to innovation in software, customer-centered approach, and proven track record of leadership would be valuable assets for GitLab moving forward. Sijbrandij is evidently optimistic about the company’s future as he focuses on his recovery.
“I am very pleased to welcome Bill to the role of CEO at GitLab,” Sijbrandij said. “I believe his passion for software, commitment to customers, and strong track record make him the right person to lead the company going forward. What started as a collaboration tool for developers is now the leading AI-powered DevSecOps platform… This is the right time to focus on my cancer treatment and health. My treatments are going well, my cancer is not metastatic, and I’m working toward making a full recovery.”
Staples’ Prior Experience and Plans for Innovation
Before this appointment, Staples was the CEO at web tracking and analytics firm New Relic, though he has also served as the head of Microsoft’s Azure application platform and as an Adobe VP. At New Relic, Staples’ strategic leadership increased the company’s value as an enterprise. He has nearly 30 years of industry expertise scaling multi-billion-dollar businesses. For his part, Staples recognized how much Sijbrandij had accomplished at his company.
“For the past twelve years,” Staples said, “Sid and the team have established GitLab as the most comprehensive AI-powered DevSecOps platform that developers love and enterprises around the world rely on for software innovation. I am honored and excited to lead the company into this next chapter and to help our customers and partners accelerate innovation and deliver business value.”
Insight from GitLab’s Board of Directors
Coinciding with Staples’ recognition, Godfrey Sullivan, the lead independent director on GitLab’s board of directors, also acknowledged Sijbrandji while looking ahead to Staples’ presence on the team.
“I’d like to thank Sid for his vision and leadership throughout the last decade,” Sullivan said. “Over that time, GitLab has grown to be a market-leading DevSecOps company which now serves more than 10,000 customers with over $750M in run-rate revenue. Looking ahead, the board and I could not be happier to welcome Bill to the role of GitLab CEO. His track record of bringing teams together, experience scaling enterprise software organizations, and focus on innovation makes him the right person to lead the company.”
Staples’ Salary and Addressing Concerns
GitLab states that Staples would receive a base salary of $600,000, with future eligibility for bonuses equal to that amount based on how the company performed moving forward. In addition, he will receive stock awards worth about $24 million.
The company’s decision partly serves to assuage rumors that it was exploring the possibility of a sale. According to SiliconAngle, the observability firm Datadog Inc. had been named as a potential suitor. Analysts seem to believe that the board was considering such a move due to Sijbrandij’s health concerns, meaning that Staples’ appointment may suggest a change of mind.
“Software has never mattered more,” Sijbraniji said in a message to his team, “and GitLab is well-positioned to be the platform that best enables folks to create, secure, and operate it. I look forward to staying part of the company and being actively involved.”
