Mike Burkland is the CEO and Chairman of Five9, a leading provider of cloud contact center software. Having joined the company in 2008, Burkland has played a pivotal role in its growth, leading Five9 through its IPO in 2014 and establishing it as one of the fastest-growing public companies in the CCaaS space.
Who is the CEO of Five9?
Early in his career, he held various positions at Oracle and BMC before becoming CEO of several enterprise software and cloud companies in different market segments. Burkland joined Five9 as CEO in January 2008, transitioned to Chairman in December 2017 after being diagnosed with cancer, and returned as CEO in November 2022. Under his leadership, Five9 has grown from an 80-person company to a 2,000-person company, becoming one of the fastest-growing public companies in the CCaaS space. Burkland was honored with the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for Northern California in June 2017. Known for his lively personality and open leadership style, Burkland has been instrumental in navigating Five9 through its early challenges and positioning it for future opportunities in the cloud-based customer service market.
Work History
- President and CEO at Five9 from January 2008 to December 2017
- Chairman of the Board at Five9 from December 2017 to November 2022
- CEO at Five9 since November 2022
- Board Member at Vocera Communications since April 2016
- Board Member at OneStream Software since April 2019
- Board Member at ReliaQuest since April 2021
Education History
Mike Burkland, CEO of Five9, completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley, earning a Bachelor's degree in Economics between 1983 and 1985. He continued his education at the same institution, attending the prestigious Haas School of Business to obtain his Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus on Finance from 1987 to 1989. This strong educational foundation in economics and finance has undoubtedly contributed to Burkland's successful career in the enterprise software and cloud industries.
When did Mike Burkland join Five9?
Mike Burkland joined Five9 in January 2008 as President and CEO, leading the company through significant growth and its IPO in 2014. In December 2017, he transitioned to the role of Chairman of the Board, and in November 2022, he returned as CEO. Throughout his nearly 15-year tenure at Five9, Burkland has been instrumental in shaping the company's success in the cloud-based customer service market.