Freshworks Appoints Kady Srinivasan as Chief Marketing Officer

Rhea-AI Summary

Freshworks (NASDAQ: FRSH) named Kady Srinivasan as Chief Marketing Officer effective Jan 7, 2026. Srinivasan brings over 15 years of SaaS marketing leadership and will report to Mika Yamamoto while leading global marketing to amplify Freshworks' AI-assisted service software strategy.

Her prior roles include CMO at You.com and Lightspeed Commerce (NYSE: LSPD), where she is credited with 25% year-over-year growth, doubling market share in key regions and quadrupling marketing efficiency, and positions at Klaviyo and Owlet Baby Care. Srinivasan also advises AI startups and holds an MBA from UNC Chapel Hill.

Positive

• Led 25% year-over-year growth at Lightspeed
• Doubled market share in key regions at Lightspeed
• Quadrupled marketing efficiency at Lightspeed

Negative

• None.

Key Figures

Leadership experience over 15 years Years leading marketing at high-growth SaaS companies

Revenue growth 25% year-over-year growth Lightspeed Commerce growth during Srinivasan’s tenure

Profitability milestone first profitable quarter in two decades Lightspeed Commerce performance under Srinivasan

Market Reality Check

$12.24 Last Close

Volume Volume 2,990,642 is roughly in line with the 20-day average of 2,996,942. normal

Technical Shares at 11.77 are trading below the 200-day MA of 13.27 after a prior downtrend.

Peers on Argus

FRSH gained 1.29% while close peers showed mixed moves: INTA +4.42%, VERX +1.48%, SPSC +1.76%, NCNO flat, and BRZE -1.01%, pointing to stock-specific rather than broad sector drivers.

Historical Context

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 15	AI-focused acquisition	Positive	-5.2%	Deal to acquire FireHydrant to deepen AI-native incident management.
Nov 13	AI product update	Positive	+2.3%	New AI features in Freshservice and Freddy AI to enhance employee experience.
Nov 13	AI customer tools	Positive	+2.3%	Launch of Freshdesk Command Center and Vertical AI Agents for faster support.
Nov 10	Research report	Neutral	+1.3%	Cost of Complexity survey highlighting software waste and productivity loss.
Nov 05	Product expansion	Positive	+1.3%	Freshservice for Business Teams launched standalone with ARR above $35M.

Pattern Detected

Recent product and AI announcements have generally seen modest positive reactions, while the FireHydrant acquisition drew a negative move, indicating occasional skepticism toward M&A.

Recent Company History

Over the past few months, Freshworks reported solid Q3 2025 results with revenue of $215.1 million and sharply narrower losses, supported by strong cash and securities balances. The company expanded its enterprise service management footprint, with Freshservice for Business Teams surpassing $35 million in ARR, and rolled out multiple AI-powered capabilities for IT and customer service. The FireHydrant acquisition aimed to deepen AI-native ServiceOps but coincided with a -5.17% move, contrasting with generally positive reactions to AI and product updates.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement introduces a new Chief Marketing Officer with over 15 years of experience scaling marketing at high-growth SaaS and AI-focused companies, including driving 25% year-over-year growth and helping achieve a first profitable quarter in two decades at a prior employer. In context of Freshworks’ recent AI product rollouts and expanding service management portfolio, investors may watch how marketing strategy, brand positioning, and demand generation metrics evolve under this leadership change.

Key Terms

saas technical

"driving transformational marketing and revenue growth at high-growth SaaS companies"

SaaS, or Software as a Service, is a way of delivering computer programs over the internet, allowing users to access and use them through a web browser without needing to install or maintain the software themselves. For investors, it highlights a business model where companies generate recurring revenue by providing ongoing access to their software, often leading to predictable income and growth potential.

ai technical

"at this pivotal moment where AI defines the future of service"

Artificial intelligence (AI) is technology that enables machines to mimic human thinking and learning, allowing them to analyze information, recognize patterns, and make decisions. For investors, AI matters because it can improve how businesses operate, create new products, or identify opportunities faster and more accurately than humans alone, potentially impacting company success and market trends.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Former Dropbox and Klaviyo executive brings proven track record of driving transformational marketing and revenue growth at high-growth SaaS companies

SAN MATEO, Calif., Jan. 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Freshworks (NASDAQ: FRSH), today announced Kady Srinivasan has joined as its Chief Marketing Officer, bringing over 15 years of leadership experience driving large-scale marketing transformations at high-growth SaaS companies. Srinivasan will lead Freshworks' global marketing strategy to amplify the company's mission to deliver exceptional customer and employee experiences with uncomplicated service software. Srinivasan will report to Mika Yamamoto, who serves as Freshworks' Chief Integrated Customer Growth Officer, and continues to oversee Marketing, Customer Support, and the Small Business and Commercial Sales and Customer Success organizations.

“Kady’s mix of experience is a strong fit for Freshworks," said Yamamoto. "She has successfully led large-scale, sustained marketing transformations and built high-performing global marketing engines that drive predictable, measurable growth across PLG, inbound, and enterprise go-to-market models. On top of her exceptional leadership qualities and proven business results, Kady upholds our value of putting customer needs at the center of brand building.”

Srinivasan most recently served as Chief Marketing Officer at You.com, an AI search infrastructure company, and Lightspeed Commerce, Inc. (NYSE: LSPD), a payments platform provider. During her tenure at Lightspeed, she doubled market share in key regions, quadrupled marketing efficiency, and helped drive 25% year-over-year growth at scale, leading the company to achieve its first profitable quarter in two decades. Prior to Lightspeed, she served as SVP, Global Head of Marketing at Klaviyo and as Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Revenue Officer at Owlet Baby Care.

"I'm thrilled to join Freshworks at this pivotal moment where AI defines the future of service," said Srinivasan. "Freshworks is uniquely positioned to lead this shift by delivering uncomplicated, AI-assisted solutions that cut through complexity and genuinely serve the customer. I look forward to working with this talented team to amplify our brand and accelerate growth through this efficient and superior path."

Srinivasan is currently a Venture Advisor at Relay Ventures and an advisor to high growth AI startups such as HighTouch and Doss. She holds an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a BE from RV College of Engineering.

About Freshworks
Freshworks Inc. builds uncomplicated service software that delivers exceptional customer and employee experiences. Our enterprise-grade solutions are powerful, yet easy to use, and quick to deliver results. Our people-first approach to AI eliminates friction, making employees more effective and organizations more productive. Nearly 75,000 companies, including Bridgestone, New Balance, Nucor, S&P Global, and Sony Music, trust Freshworks’ customer experience (CX) and employee experience (EX) software to fuel customer loyalty and service efficiency. For the latest company news and customer stories, visit www.freshworks.com and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X.

© 2026 Freshworks Inc. All rights reserved. Freshworks and its associated logos are trademarks of Freshworks Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Press Contact
Erika Howard
pr@freshworks.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/01ec9225-f20e-4be8-b500-748db1bc6d2c

FAQ

Who is the new CMO of Freshworks (FRSH) and when was she appointed?

Kady Srinivasan was appointed Chief Marketing Officer of Freshworks effective Jan 7, 2026.

What experience does Kady Srinivasan bring to Freshworks (FRSH)?

She brings over 15 years of SaaS marketing leadership, including CMO roles at You.com and Lightspeed and senior roles at Klaviyo and Owlet.

How might Kady Srinivasan’s hire affect Freshworks’ growth strategy (FRSH)?

She will lead global marketing to amplify Freshworks' AI-assisted service offerings and focus on PLG, inbound, and enterprise go-to-market models.

What measurable results did Kady Srinivasan achieve at Lightspeed (referenced for FRSH)?

At Lightspeed she is reported to have driven 25% YoY growth, doubled market share in key regions, and quadrupled marketing efficiency.

To whom will the Freshworks CMO report and what scope will she oversee?

She will report to Mika Yamamoto and lead global marketing to support Freshworks' customer and employee experience strategy.

Does Kady Srinivasan have advisory or academic credentials relevant to investors in FRSH?

She is a venture advisor to Relay Ventures, advises AI startups, holds an MBA from UNC Chapel Hill, and a BE from RV College of Engineering.