Rootstock Software, a market player in the manufacturing cloud ERP space, has appointed Richard Berger as its new CEO, replacing interim chief exec Jeff Ralyea, who will continue to serve as executive chairman of the San Ramon, California-based company’s board of directors.
The CEO succession from Ralyea to Berger follows on the heels of Rootstock’s recent Rooted-In Manufacturing Conference in New Orleans, where manufacturing stakeholders across technology, finance, and operations learned about Rootstock products such as AIRS (AI from Rootstock) and the software company’s vision for manufacturing, alongside partners such as Salesforce, according to a May 1 release from the software company.
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“Rick’s appointment comes at a critical juncture in Rootstock’s trajectory; demand for Rootstock ERP, built on the Salesforce Platform, is accelerating as manufacturers move from siloed operations to a more connected ‘signal chain’ strategy,” said Ralyea, who came aboard in 2022 when private equity firm Gryphon Investors, the company’s management team, and Salesforce Ventures together acquired Rootstock. Ralyea has worked in the ERP space for about 30 years, he told Smart Industry during a brief chat at the March 25-27 conference in New Orleans.
“Rick has a proven track record of scaling tech companies for growth,” he added in the Rootstock release. “Add to this his understanding of the enterprise software market and experience across the Salesforce ecosystem, and it’s a combination sure to drive success for Rootstock and to enable the Rootstock team to deliver new levels of value to our customers and partners.”
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Berger added: "After years of navigating volatility, inflation, and pressures on profitability, manufacturers stand on the precipice of momentous change. Equipping manufacturers with the right infrastructure and cutting-edge technologies—including predictive analytics, generative AI, and IoT—we’re helping them to overcome past challenges and seize new opportunities for growth and digital advancement."
Berger brings more than 25 years of experience in technology, software, and leadership, according to Rootstock.
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Most recently, he served as the president of NewStore, a unified commerce platform helping brands manage their retail operations. During his tenure at NewStore, Berger also advanced the company’s partnership with Salesforce, helping to launch an omnichannel solution that integrated Salesforce capabilities into physical retail environments.
