F5 has unveiled significant changes to its executive team in a move aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and driving advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). Tom Fountain has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer (COO), Chad Whalen as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), and Kunal Anand as Chief Technology and AI Officer.

Tom Fountain, previously F5’s Executive Vice President of Global Services and Chief Strategy Officer, will now focus on accelerating operational speed and improving productivity across the company in his new role as COO. Fountain will also continue to oversee Global Services and lead F5’s digital transformation initiatives.

Chad Whalen, who has served as Executive Vice President of Worldwide Sales, will now take on the role of CRO. His responsibilities include driving revenue growth and expanding F5’s market share in software solutions. Whalen will also continue to execute the company’s land-and-expand strategy, focusing on its large enterprise, service provider, and government customers.

Kunal Anand, recently promoted to Chief Technology Officer, will now also serve as Chief Technology and AI Officer. This expanded role highlights F5’s commitment to integrating generative AI across its product offerings, furthering the company’s innovation in AI-driven solutions.

These leadership changes are effective immediately, with all new appointees reporting to F5 President and CEO François Locoh-Donou. Locoh-Donou expressed confidence that the new leadership structure would drive a new phase of growth for F5, focusing on agility, productivity, and innovation to meet customer needs.

In addition, F5 has initiated an external search for a new Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer, as Kara Sprague will depart in November 2024 to become CEO of a private technology company. Locoh-Donou praised Sprague for her significant contributions to F5’s transition to a software-centric business and the evolution of its solutions portfolio.