A new addition to Cloudflare's leadership team
Cloudflare has announced the appointment of Kelly Russell as its new Chief People Officer. Russell brings experience from high-growth technology companies, including roles at Amazon, Twilio, and most recently Wiz, where she was part of the rapid scaling efforts.
In a statement about her move, Russell cited Cloudflare's mission, transparent culture, and the scale of its technical impact as primary attractions. She emphasized that Cloudflare's positioning as a company building a better Internet aligns with her personal values.
People strategy at scale
Russell's background centers on building and developing teams within fast-paced environments. Her experience spans both hypergrowth scenarios and market disruption, reinforcing a conviction that people strategies drive long-term success. She noted that her interview process at Cloudflare reflected these principles in practice, describing the organization as one where employees can perform at their best while taking pride in their contributions.
Culture of openness
Russell highlighted Cloudflare's commitment to transparency as a differentiator in an industry where secrecy is common. She pointed to the company's open approach as a mechanism for fostering trust and collaboration. Her leadership philosophy emphasizes open communication and honest feedback, which she said aligns with Cloudflare's culture. She also praised the organization's bias toward action, noting a willingness to ship work even when the result isn't perfect.
Russell views her new role as a natural step in a career focused on scaling organizations that combine technological advancement with broader societal impact. She looks forward to working alongside Cloudflare's team to pursue its stated goals.
