EdTech firm Thrive Learning has promoted Cassie Gasson to the position of co-CEO.
Gasson joined the startup soon after it was founded in 2019 as head of marketing and quickly rose through the ranks. She became CMO and the firm’s youngest female director and shareholder at just 26 years of age.
Now aged 30, Gasson will share the top role at the Nottingham firm – now valued at £150 million, with 200 employees and 380 customers across 60+ countries – with founder Sean Reddington.
Thrive’s AI-powered learning platform brings learning, skills and comms together to upskill staff. It is used by the likes of Volvo, Vodafone, ASOS, Burger King and Avon.
Achieved without external funding, the firm’s success has been attributed in part to Gasson. She is said to have transformed marketing into the company’s leading revenue generator, delivering 65% of its new business revenue last year.
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“Cassie is the definition of success,” said Reddington. “Her impact on both our bottom line and our company culture has been nothing short of remarkable.
“Cassie’s promotion is a testament to Thrive’s commitment to fostering talent and serves as an inspiration to the entire team, particularly women, who make up 50% of Thrive’s leadership team.
“There is no one more Thrive than Cassie, and I have no doubt that she will excel in this new role.”
Gasson’s immediate priorities include relaunching Thrive’s people strategy, refining business-wide communication strategies, heading up new initiatives for its senior leadership team and spearheading a comprehensive review of compensation and performance management.
“I’m incredibly excited to take on this new challenge as co-CEO of Thrive,” said Gasson. “I’ve learned so much from Sean’s leadership over the last eight years and am honoured to grow the incredible culture he has fostered and ensure what makes us truly Thrive remains as we scale.
“His mentorship, support and guidance has been instrumental in my career growth. The fact he’s trusting me with this role is a testament to his belief that potential, dedication and talent can trump experience.
“At Thrive, we’re committed to revolutionising the way people learn at work and are well on our way to being the go-to all-in-one AI-powered solution for enterprise businesses globally. Our promise to put our customers and people first will always be our priority, as we know the rest comes.
“I can’t wait to continue working alongside Sean to lead this brilliant business into its next chapter of success.”