Beyond the Founding Team | A Leadership Playbook for Growth: Product

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Chief product officers typically follow CTOs in placement, and almost all are stepping up into the role for the first time.

^{Source: 2022 RRA Growth Co Analysis, n = 42 Chief Product Officers}

Comparing initially placed CPOs vs. CPOs in seat at IPO

Key Differences in Backgrounds of CPOs (% of CPOs)

Track Record Matters: Almost two-thirds of product leaders who stepped up into the CPO role for the first time had FAANG experience

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Authors

• Robert Alexander is a member of Russell Reynolds Associates’ Technology Knowledge team. He is based in New York City.
• Agnes Greaves co-leads the firm’s Core & Growth Technology practice globally and the Consumer Digital & Media practice in Europe. She is based in London.
• Tuck Rickards heads the firm’s San Francisco office and co-leads the Core & Growth Technology practice. He is based in San Francisco.

Methodology and Notes

• Analysis of 40 tech/tech-enabled companies that were founded since 2005 and IPO’d 2017-2021, were largest by region according to valuation at time of deal, and achieved ≥20% revenue growth rate over the three-year period prior to IPO
• Industry verticals included: fintech, healthtech, automotive/transportation, eCommerce/marketplace, software/cloud
• Analysis includes only the appointment of non-founder executives
• Major funding rounds: approximate point in time at which each company reached series C/later stage funding
• APAC excluded from study due to data accessibility
• Sources: Pitchbook, Board Ex