GitLab Appoints New Leadership to Drive AI Innovation and Scalable Growth
GitLab Inc. (NASDAQ: GTLB), the leading comprehensive and intelligent DevSecOps platform, has announced two key leadership appointments that signal the company’s commitment to innovation, scalability, and its next phase of growth. Manav Khurana has been named Chief Product and Marketing Officer (CPMO), while Manu Narayan will serve as Chief Information Officer (CIO). Both leaders bring deep technical expertise and a strategic, data-driven approach to their roles, positioning GitLab to address evolving customer needs and accelerate its impact in the DevSecOps space.
Transformative Leadership for a New Era
As GitLab continues to expand its footprint and enhance its platform, strong leadership is essential to navigating the complexities of scale and innovation. According to Bill Staples, CEO of GitLab, these appointments are pivotal to the company’s future success. “Having exceptional leaders who can build systems of scale is critical to our continued growth,” said Staples. “Manav and Manu bring operational strength and a strategic mindset that aligns with our mission to deliver market-leading value. With their leadership, we will transform how teams work and collaborate—with each other and with AI.”
The appointments come at a time when artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the software development landscape. By leveraging AI to address challenges in security, testing, and code quality, GitLab aims to empower developers and organizations to innovate faster and more efficiently. The new leadership team will play a crucial role in advancing this vision.
Manav Khurana: Driving AI Innovation and Product-Led Growth
As Chief Product and Marketing Officer, Manav Khurana will oversee GitLab’s product, design, and marketing functions. His primary focus will be advancing GitLab’s AI product vision and creating a product-led growth strategy that prioritizes self-service customer acquisition. With over 25 years of experience in technology, Khurana brings a wealth of expertise in establishing new technology categories and building tools that enable engineers to excel.
Prior to joining GitLab, Khurana served as Chief Product Officer at New Relic, where he played a key role in driving product innovation and market expansion. He has also held leadership roles at Twilio, Aruba HPE, and Motorola, demonstrating his ability to navigate complex technological landscapes and deliver impactful solutions. Khurana holds a B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Rochester and an MBA from Santa Clara University.
“AI has dramatically accelerated individual developer productivity, but it has also introduced new organizational challenges around security, testing, and code quality,” said Khurana. “GitLab is uniquely positioned to address these challenges with its proven platform for modernizing software development, operations, and security. I am thrilled to join this talented team and help amplify the value we deliver to our customers.”
Under Khurana’s leadership, GitLab will focus on creating seamless product and marketing experiences that drive developer mindshare, customer acquisition, and expansion. His emphasis on AI innovation ensures that GitLab remains at the forefront of the DevSecOps revolution, empowering teams to build better software faster.
Manu Narayan: Leading System Transformation and Internal AI Strategy
As Chief Information Officer, Manu Narayan will spearhead GitLab’s system and process transformation efforts, with a particular focus on internal AI strategy, enterprise technology, and data infrastructure. His appointment underscores GitLab’s commitment to leveraging technology as a force multiplier for organizational efficiency and scalability.
Before joining GitLab, Narayan served as Vice President of Business Technology at Confluent, where he led the company’s consumption-based transformation and internal AI initiatives. He also oversaw critical systems and process programs aimed at improving long-term efficiency and scalability. Prior to Confluent, Narayan held leadership roles at BlackLine, Applied Minds, and CIM, showcasing his ability to drive transformative change across diverse industries. Narayan attended the University of California, Los Angeles.
“I am excited to join GitLab and lead our internal AI strategy, enterprise technology, and data infrastructure,” said Narayan. “Technology has the power to be a true force multiplier for organizations, and I look forward to driving system and process transformations that support GitLab’s continued growth. Together, we will help our customers plan, build, manage, and deliver software more efficiently.”
Narayan’s expertise in scaling technology infrastructure and implementing AI-driven solutions will be instrumental in ensuring GitLab’s internal systems align with its external ambitions. By optimizing processes and fostering innovation within the organization, he will enable GitLab to maintain its competitive edge in the rapidly evolving DevSecOps market.
Positioning GitLab for Future Success
The appointments of Khurana and Narayan reflect GitLab’s strategic focus on innovation, scalability, and customer-centricity. As organizations increasingly rely on AI to enhance software development workflows, GitLab’s ability to provide a comprehensive and intelligent DevSecOps platform becomes even more critical.
Khurana’s emphasis on AI-driven product innovation and self-service growth motions will help GitLab attract and retain customers by delivering seamless, impactful experiences. Meanwhile, Narayan’s leadership in system transformation and internal AI strategy will ensure the company’s infrastructure evolves to meet growing demands, enabling GitLab to scale effectively while maintaining operational excellence.
Together, these leaders will drive GitLab’s mission to transform how teams collaborate and leverage AI to build better software. Their combined expertise positions GitLab to not only meet current market needs but also anticipate future trends, ensuring the company remains a leader in the DevSecOps space.
A Commitment to Empowering Developers and Organizations
GitLab’s latest leadership appointments underscore its dedication to empowering developers and organizations with cutting-edge tools and technologies. By focusing on AI innovation, product-led growth, and scalable infrastructure, GitLab is poised to deliver unparalleled value to its customers.
As Khurana and Narayan step into their new roles, they bring a shared vision of leveraging technology to solve complex challenges and drive meaningful outcomes. Their leadership will play a pivotal role in shaping GitLab’s trajectory, enabling the company to continue redefining the future of software development and collaboration.
In an era where AI and automation are transforming industries, GitLab’s commitment to innovation and customer success ensures that it remains a trusted partner for organizations seeking to thrive in the digital age. With Khurana and Narayan at the helm of product, marketing, and IT strategies, GitLab is well-positioned to lead the charge in revolutionizing how software is built, managed, and delivered.
About GitLab
GitLab is the most comprehensive, intelligent DevSecOps platform for software innovation. GitLab enables organizations to increase developer productivity, improve operational efficiency, reduce security and compliance risk, and accelerate digital transformation. More than 50 million registered users and more than 50% of the Fortune 100 trust GitLab to ship better, more secure software faster.
