Charlie Wood, CEO of Wiise
Professional Background
Charlie Wood is the CEO of Wiise, a role in which he brings over 25 years of tech experience. His career includes notable leadership positions at Salesforce, Microsoft, and Dropbox. Wood is known for his entrepreneurial spirit, having founded and mentored several startups.
Role at Wiise
Charlie Wood took up the CEO position at Wiise after being commissioned by KPMG to assess the business as its previous CEO was relocating. Despite initially serving as a consultant, his comprehensive 80-page strategy document led to his offer to lead Wiise. Under his leadership, Wiise has seen remarkable success, tripling its revenue and increasing the average revenue per user (ARPU) by 85% over two years. The company is on track to add 60% year-on-year revenue to its top line.
Management Philosophy and Achievements
Wood applies principles from WinningByDesign, a global B2B revenue consulting firm where he was managing director. His methods involve a scientific and models-based approach to building a go-to-market strategy, with specific processes tailored to each business. This approach covers the spectrum from account-based marketing to customer success and has been critical in Wiise's growth.
Company Overview
Wiise is an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) enterprise resource planner for mid-market companies in Australia and New Zealand. Built on Microsoft technology, Wiise serves businesses of various sizes with features such as accounting, payroll, inventory, CRM, and manufacturing among others. Key integrations include Microsoft AppSource, Microsoft Dynamics 365, and Power Automate.
Strategic Initiatives and Future Goals
Wood's ambitious plans for Wiise involve doubling the company's growth and boosting market share in the cloud ERP space. His leadership style emphasizes urgency and seizing opportunities, principles that he imparts across his team. Additionally, Wood values the support from a stable investor like KPMG, which provides a strong financial foundation during challenging times for raising capital.
Personal Insights
Charlie Wood is originally from the United Kingdom and has a varied career moving between New Zealand, the United States, and Australia. He is passionate about building teams and driving fast-growing businesses, enjoying the intellectual challenges ERP solutions offer. Annually, he engages in significant physical challenges, such as expeditions or ultra-marathons, to complement his professional life and emphasizes the importance of both a proactive mindset and the need to unplug and recharge.
Quotes and Perspectives
Wood emphasizes the critical nature of not letting time slip by and highlights the importance of immediate action, an approach that aligns with his rapid growth strategies at Wiise. His background in diverse geographies and multiple technology fields equips him with a broad and adaptable perspective, crucial for leading a dynamic and quickly evolving company like Wiise.
