Polaris Software, a St. Louis-based provider of sales and marketing software, has added to its C-suite with a new hire.
Polaris (formerly Benchmark Email) has hired Jeff Zimmerman for the newly created role of chief product officer. Zimmerman’s new role will involve being responsible for the strategic vision of its products and adding to the headcount of its product division, Polaris said.
With the hire, Polaris adds an executive with previous experience working for fast-growing technology firms. Most recently, Zimmerman was chief product officer of St. Louis-based call center software startup Balto. Before that, he worked for more than a decade at Creve Coeur-based credit card processor Clearent, holding roles that included chief operating officer and chief product officer.
"I'm very excited to join Polaris Software and get to work with this amazing team helping businesses connect with their prospects and customers. We have a huge opportunity to make a global impact, while also attracting and growing product management and tech talent in the St. Louis region," said Zimmerman.
Benchmark targets small and medium-size businesses with its sales and marketing software. Its products include email marketing software through its Benchmark Email platform and marketing, sales and customer relationship management (CRM) technology through its BenchmarkONE (formerly Hatchbuck) brand. Benchmark Email and Hatchbuck merged in September 2019. In January 2021, Polaris expanded its product offering with its acquisition of Contacts+, which provides contact management software.
Polaris CEO Jonathan Herrick said the tasks of Polaris’ newly created chief product officer position in the past have been done by committee. He said hiring someone for a dedicated role will help further expand the reach and utility of its sales and marketing software.
“This is a smart investment for us. Jeff is the perfect culture fit,” said Herrick. “He’s had success with Clearent in town. He was their product leader when they had a dollar in revenue and he left when they were at the $170 million mark. He has a track record of growing companies north of $100 million and that’s where we’re headed. Our next goal is to reach $100 million in revenue.”
Herrick declined to disclose Polaris’ current annual revenue figures, but said it had double-digit revenue growth last year. In September 2021, the company said it hit a key milestone, surpassing 1 million users and 25,000 paying customers for its products.
