SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SurveyMonkey, the world’s leading online survey platform, announced today the addition of Serena Williams — accomplished entrepreneur and one of the most recognizable global icons in the world — and Intuit Chairman and CEO Brad Smith to its board of directors.
“Serena is an activist, marketer, brand builder, and greatest athlete of our time,” said Zander Lurie, SurveyMonkey’s CEO. “Serena’s voice on the board sends a strong message to our company, investors, and the industry.”
Serena has won the most Grand Slam singles titles in history, with her most recent win at the 2017 Australian Open. As a strategic partner, investor and innovator, Serena has propelled her influence off the court and into the business world. She was named a “Fashion Trendsetter” by VOGUE for harnessing her passion to create her HSN Signature Statement collection, an aspirational brand that is accessible to any consumer. A dedicated philanthropist, Serena also continues to work with the Serena Williams Fund, Williams Sister Fund, UNICEF and Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation.
“As a business professional, I’m constantly asking questions. I want to hear the positive and the negative to figure out where I can improve,” said Serena Williams. “I believe in the power of a question and the impact of data. Like SurveyMonkey, I’m driven to ask what’s happening, and why. We also share a fierce commitment to letting all voices be heard. This is why SurveyMonkey is the right fit for me — I’m thrilled to join the team.”
Brad Smith, Chairman and CEO of Intuit, and one of the most innovative leaders in Silicon Valley, has guided Intuit’s transformation from a North American desktop software company to a global, cloud-driven product and platform company. Under his leadership, Intuit has consistently ranked as one of the most admired companies and as one of the top 100 best places to work 16 years in a row. By building a culture of experimentation with a particular focus on design, the company has grown to more than 42 million consumers, accountants, and small businesses while expanding its customer base around the globe.
“Brad’s leadership is highly and widely regarded in the tech industry. Intuit’s value has quadrupled during his tenure,” said Lurie. “Not only did he lead a massive transformation of the company, he built a culture of innovation, experimentation, and design — his mentorship will surely benefit SurveyMonkey.”
“SurveyMonkey has become known for its innovation and values-based culture,” said Brad Smith, Intuit Chairman and CEO. “They are helping businesses flex an important business muscle — intellectual curiosity — unleashing creative thinking and ideas that activate real change. I am excited and honored to be a part of that effort.”
“We want change agents at our table. I’m thrilled that Serena and Brad are joining our team,” said Lurie. “We have a clear vision of how businesses can turn people’s opinions and voices into actionable data, a strong brand, and exciting product updates in the pipeline. We have a deep bench of innovative leaders, and our goals are clear. We’re playing to win.”
Williams and Smith join board chairman David Ebersman and members Dana L. Evan, Ryan Finley, Lee Fixel, Zander Lurie, Sheryl Sandberg, and Ben Spero. Meg Whitman, President and CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and Bill Veghte, Executive Chairman, Turbonomic, have stepped down from the board and will remain as advisors to the company moving forward.
About SurveyMonkey
SurveyMonkey is the world's leading online survey platform, with more than 3 million survey responses every day. SurveyMonkey has revolutionized the way people give and take feedback, making it accessible, easy and affordable for everyone. The company was founded in 1999 with a focus on helping people make better decisions, and has built technology based on over 18 years of experience in survey methodology and web development. Customers include 99% of the Fortune 500, academic institutions, organizations and neighborhood soccer leagues everywhere. The company has over 650 employees throughout North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific, with headquarters in San Mateo, CA. For more information, visit www.surveymonkey.com.
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