Seattle-based startup Mason recently announced the hiring of Webb Stevens as its new CEO and John Thimsen as its new CTO. Stevens, a former COO at Docker, brings executive experience from companies such as Carta, Qualtrics, and Avalara. Thimsen, the former CTO of Qualtrics and a founding member of the Amazon Echo team, also joins the team. Mason’s focus is on providing a hardware-software platform for companies managing device fleets, particularly in sectors such as healthcare, life sciences, and retail, with a focus on data collection use cases like clinical trials and remote patient monitoring.
Nancy Xiao, who previously served as CEO, will now transition to the role of president at Mason. Xiao took over as CEO in 2021 from her brother Jim, who founded the company in 2016 and remains a partner. The company raised a $25 million Series A round in 2019 to support its growth and expansion. With the addition of Stevens and Thimsen, Xiao believes that the company will be able to meet the increasing demand for its products in the healthcare industry. The expertise and leadership that Stevens and Thimsen bring to the table are expected to propel Mason to new heights.
In other key personnel changes across the Pacific Northwest, several executives have made significant moves. Christopher Peake, a former Zappos leader who recently worked at Zulily, joined Beyond, a Utah-based company, as director of merchandising. Seattle tech veteran Brooke Shepard launched a B2B services business aimed at working directly with founders and senior leaders, drawing on his experience at Salesforce, Tableau, and Weber Shandwick. Idaho-based 3D printing startup Continuous Composites named Steve Starner as CEO, with previous experience at Velo3D and Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence.
Additionally, Seattle healthcare startup Rippl added Joe Chung as CTO and head of AI, following the acquisition of his company, Kinto. Seattle fintech startup Upwardli welcomed Justin Chukumba as head of sales, leveraging his sales management experience at companies like Stripe and Plaid. James Sanders joined semiconductor analysis firm TechInsights as a senior analyst, bringing knowledge from roles at CCS Insight, 451 Research, and CBS Interactive. The Oregon UAS Accelerator appointed Joseph Wyno as its new executive director, recognizing his previous experience as the director at Octane’s LaunchPad SBDC Accelerator.
Overall, these personnel changes reflect the dynamic and evolving nature of the technology and startup landscape in the Pacific Northwest. With experienced leaders like Stevens and Thimsen joining Mason, the company is poised for growth and success in its mission to provide innovative solutions for managing device fleets in various industries. The addition of key executives across different sectors demonstrates the continued growth and innovation in the region, as companies leverage expertise and leadership to drive their businesses forward.
