Overview
Name: Richard Fye
Current Position: Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO)
Company: Cognism
Location: New York City Metropolitan Area
Professional Background
Richard Fye currently holds the position of Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) at Cognism, a globally recognized go-to-market intelligence company known for its adherence to GDPR & CCPA compliance. Richard joined Cognism in May 2023, bringing a wealth of HR experience from his previous role at Datadog. During his tenure at Datadog, he successfully scaled the People function from 150 to 2,500 employees and guided the company through a successful IPO and NASDAQ listing.
Previous Roles
- People Leader at Datadog: Managed HR across 10 international offices, handling a workforce spread across 30 countries.
- Vice President, People at Fino Consulting
- Vice President, People at Percolate by Seismic
- Advisor at PeopleTech Partners since 2015
Achievements and Responsibilities
At Cognism:
- Oversees all aspects of HR for a global workforce of nearly 500 employees.
- Plays a crucial role in forming an inclusive and diverse workplace environment.
- Focuses on driving business success through innovative HR practices tailored to support rapid growth.
Key Initiatives:
- Spearheading talent acquisition strategies, highlighted by recent postings for senior HR roles in London and announcements seeking leaders for the Director of Talent Acquisition.
- Emphasizing performance assessment and recognition within the organization, fostering a high-performance culture.
Professional Philosophy:
Richard emphasizes the importance of creating a supportive environment that nurtures employee growth and innovation. His empathetic leadership style and deep understanding of people and business dynamics are key facets of his professional identity.
Strategic Insights for Cognism
Under Richard’s leadership, Cognism is projected to enhance its HR framework to support its ambitious expansion goals. The company's headcount and revenue have grown consistently at 100% year-over-year, emphasizing the necessity of robust HR practices to maintain this trajectory.
Future Directions:
- Continue geographic expansion by leveraging Richard’s experience in establishing foreign entities.
- Implement strategic HR innovations to navigate the challenges of rapid scaling and global workforce management.
- Foster a culturally cohesive and high-performing team aligned with Cognism's global objectives.
Notable Collaborations within Cognism
Richard joins a diverse executive management team based across different continents:
- James Isilay: Chief Executive Officer, based in Switzerland.
- Michelle Bradbury: Chief Product Officer, based in Boston, USA.
- Kristapor Giragosian: Chief Operating Officer, based in Boston, USA.
- Stjepan Buljat: Chief Technology Officer and co-founder, based in Croatia.
- Alice de Courcy: Chief Marketing Officer, based in the United Kingdom.
Richard’s appointment as CHRO aligns with Cognism’s strategic focus on building a world-class, globally dispersed executive team to drive innovation and growth.
Company Overview
Cognism is a leader in premium sales intelligence, offering a suite of tools to boost B2B sales performance. The company was founded in 2015 by James Isilay and Stjepan Buljat. Cognism’s data services include contact information, company data, event insights, technographics, and sales trigger events, supported by its commitment to compliance with global data privacy laws.
Key Figures:
- Founded Year: 2015
- Employees: Approximately 450
- Revenue: $50M+ in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR)
- Recent Funding: Raised £64 million in Series C funding in January 2022
Cognism supports 3,000+ revenue teams worldwide, helping them connect with high-quality prospects and create predictable sales pipelines.
