SUSE has appointed Dirk-Peter van Leeuwen as new CEO starting on May 1st 2023 to lead the company during its next phase of accelerated profitable growth. Melissa Di Donato, the current CEO, has decided to step down as she embarks on the next chapter of her career.

A veteran of the enterprise software industry, Dirk-Peter van Leeuwen has spent nearly two decades at Red Hat, a global leader in open source solutions. Since joining Red Hat in 2004, he has held various senior management positions overseeing sales, marketing and operations, most recently as Senior Vice President and General Manager of North America, and before that of APAC.

Under Donato’s leadership, SUSE listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in 2021 and became one of Europe’s most valuable public software companies. During her tenure, SUSE has also completed the strategic acquisitions of Rancher and NeuVector, which position the Company strongly in the high growth markets of container management and security. SUSE has increased its revenues by over 60% and its adjusted EBITDA by over 70% under Melissa Di Donato’s leadership.

To facilitate the transition, CFO Andy Myers has been appointed interim CEO in addition to his role as CFO. Andy Myers has been SUSE’s CFO since 2020 and played a pivotal role in the Company’s IPO.