Ryan Aytay, the executive responsible for Salesforce’s data visualization arm Tableau, has confirmed he will be leaving the company after nearly two decades on the payroll. The announcement was made on Tuesday via Aytay’s LinkedIn account, where he said he is moving on to a new role beyond Salesforce and intends to provide further details in the near future.
Aytay was named to lead Tableau in 2023, a move tied to Salesforce’s attempt to more closely integrate the business following the software maker’s 2019 acquisition of Tableau for $15.7 billion. The acquisition was one of several large deals cited as part of Salesforce’s broader expansion strategy.
The news of Aytay’s departure has prompted commentary from market participants, with the announcement noted as fueling some concern on Wall Street about executive turnover at Salesforce. The company has relied on acquisitions to expand its product offering and Aytay’s role was central to integrating one of those acquisitions into the product suite.
In reflecting on his time at Salesforce, Aytay detailed a 19-year career that spanned multiple senior roles within the company. His LinkedIn post outlined responsibilities that included work in mergers and acquisitions, stewardship of strategic partnerships with large technology firms, and executive leadership positions within Salesforce’s portfolio of businesses.
He expressed thanks to Marc Benioff for "the trust, the partnership, and the opportunity to lead and grow in ways I never could have imagined."
The post also highlighted a succession of titles and responsibilities: managing strategic partnerships with companies such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Apple; serving as Co-CEO of Quip; acting as Chief Business Officer for CEO Marc Benioff; and ultimately serving as CEO of Tableau. Aytay described his period leading Tableau over the past three to four years as "one of the great privileges of my career."
While he signaled that his next professional step will be outside Salesforce, Aytay did not provide additional details beyond an assurance that more information about his next role will be shared soon. The company has not announced a successor in connection with his departure.
Key context from the announcement is straightforward: Aytay is leaving after 19 years; he led Tableau beginning in 2023 to advance integration of the sizable 2019 acquisition; and his exit has been noticed by investors concerned about executive turnover. Beyond those points, public details on timing, succession, or the nature of his upcoming role remain limited to Aytay’s stated intention to reveal more at a later date.