SoftwareOne, a Switzerland-headquartered software and cloud solutions provider listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, has named Raphael Erb as sole CEO effective August 1, 2026. Co-CEO Melissa Mulholland is leaving the company following the substantial completion of the Crayon integration, which prompted SoftwareOne's board to conclude that a dual leadership structure was no longer necessary.
Erb has been with SoftwareOne since 1999 and served as CEO before the Crayon acquisition, a role he held from November 2024. When the acquisition closed, the board created a co-CEO arrangement to manage the integration: Erb took responsibility for commercial operations, the services business and marketplace, while Mulholland handled strategy development, customer platforms and global functions. With that work now largely done, the board decided to revert to a single chief executive.
Till Spillmann, Chairman of the Board of Directors, described the logic behind both the original structure and its dissolution: "The Co-CEO model was designed to ensure continuity through the integration of SoftwareOne and Crayon. With that mandate nearing completion, a sole CEO structure is the right next step to sustain focus and accelerate execution. Raphael Erb, with his deep understanding of our customers, core operations and commercial business, is ideally positioned to lead SoftwareOne in this next chapter."
Spillmann also addressed Mulholland's departure directly: "On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank both Raphael and Melissa Mulholland for their significant contribution to the successful combination of SoftwareOne and Crayon. Melissa led Crayon through a period of strong international expansion, and following the acquisition by SoftwareOne, she was instrumental in shaping the strategic direction of the combined company and strengthening its position in the market. We are grateful for her leadership and wish her every success in the future."
Mulholland said: "I am proud of what we have achieved together over the past year. The combination of SoftwareOne and Crayon has created a stronger company with a compelling future, and I am grateful to our employees, customers and partners for their support throughout this journey. The time is now right to transition to a sole CEO structure. I am confident that the company is very well positioned for its next chapter and wish Raphael and the entire SoftwareOne team continued success."
Erb said: "The past year has demonstrated the strength of our combined business, and now it's about building on that momentum. I want to thank Melissa for her partnership and for everything she contributed to bringing our two companies together. I am honoured by the trust placed in me and excited to lead SoftwareOne into its next stage of growth, together with our talented teams around the world. We remain fully committed to our strategy, our customers and partners, and delivering long-term value for all stakeholders."
SoftwareOne's strategy and 2030 financial targets remain unchanged. The company will publish its first-half 2026 results on August 26, 2026.
