Design software company Canva has announced the appointment of Kelly Steckelberg as its new Chief Financial Officer. Steckelberg was previously the CFO of Zoom Video Communications, and with experience in leading multiple industries, including software, technology, and online services, joins the board with significant knowledge.
Steckelberg’s career stretches over two decades, encompassing significant roles at many major technology companies, most notably Cisco and Zoosk, where she was CEO. Her latest role was at Zoom, an organization in which she played a pivotal role in its remarkable growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, during which time Zoom’s market capitalization reached $160 billion as the platform became essential for remote communication. She also guided Zoom to the public listing in 2019. Steckelberg’s strategic leadership at Zoom helped her establish a reputation as a veteran and astute executive with deep experience in scaling technology businesses.
Steckelberg was the officer who took up the position after Canva’s former CFO, Damien Singh, had resigned early this year following allegations of ill behavior. This arose after an anonymous message on an external platform raised some concerns. Canva moved on, and Steckelberg joins the team as part of its expansion and preparations for a likely IPO.
In a statement issued on Monday, Canva highlighted Steckelberg’s strong track record and leadership capabilities. “Kelly’s impressive track record as a strong leader and strategic thinker, combined with her proven expertise in scaling enterprise companies, make her the perfect addition to our leadership bench,” the company said in the email announcement.
The new president, Steckelberg, based in Austin, Texas, will join Canva on November 26. The company is well placed for significant growth as the IPO will cement her position in the competitive design software market.
Steckelberg also accepted the role as she made her decision to leave Zoom in August 2024. Following the decision, Michelle Chang, Corporate Vice President and CFO of Microsoft’s Commercial Sales & Partner Organization took the role at Zoom.
With her wide experience and leadership in high-growth settings, Steckelberg is expected to be able to steer Canva through the challenges of its next stage of expansion as it readies to go public.
