Khozema Shipchandler Succeeds Jeff Lawson in the Role of CEO at Twilio

Jeff Lawson, the co-founder of Twilio, announced his departure as CEO of the enterprise communications software company amidst pressure from activist investors advocating for substantial changes. Twilio anticipates surpassing its previous guidance for fourth-quarter revenue and income, as outlined in a regulatory filing coinciding with Lawson’s decision.

Expressing the need for a new leader to guide Twilio into its next phase, Lawson conveyed this shift in a blog post. Khozema Shipchandler, a longstanding Twilio executive, assumed the CEO position effective immediately, also securing a board seat. Simultaneously, Lawson stepped down from the board, previously serving as Chairman. Jeff Epstein, a current board member and operating partner at Bessemer Venture Partners, will now lead the board.

Having previously served as Twilio’s CFO and COO, Shipchandler assumed leadership of the communications division following corporate restructuring in 2018.

Shipchandler welcomed the CEO role, hinting at a reassessment of “underperforming” facets within the company, aligning with the activists’ objectives.

Sagar Gupta, portfolio manager at Anson Funds, expressed approval of Lawson’s departure but emphasized the need for further actions to enhance shareholder value. Gupta, involved in building Legion Partners’ stake in Twilio in 2023, echoed similar sentiments after joining Anson Funds.

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