Salesforce Loses Co-CEO Block Who Propelled Growth Strategy

Salesforce.com Inc. Co-Chief Executive Officer Keith Block stepped down Tuesday after revamping the software maker’s growth strategy, helping fuel a fourfold increase in revenue during his tenure.

Block garnered less public attention than founder and Chief Executive Officer Marc Benioff during his seven years at the market leader for customer-relations software, but took command of day-to-day operations behind the scenes. Block, promoted from president to chief operating officer to co-CEO with Benioff in August 2018, professionalized the sales organization, taking lessons from his 26-year stint at Oracle Corp. He persuaded Benioff the company should tailor software for different industries, which expanded the universe of customers. And, as co-CEO, Block allowed Benioff time to focus on his many political and philanthropic initiatives.