A major move has been announced at one of the most prominent software platforms in the custom integration channel. D-Tools, the provider of end-to-end business management solutions, announced that longtime leader Randy Stearns will “downshift” from the role, making way for G Paul Hess to step in as the company’s new CEO. D-Tools made clear that the transition has been in the works and was part of the company’s succession plan.
“With the company performing at a high level and our strategy, team, and capital all aligned, this feels like the right moment for me to step back from the day-to-day CEO role and pass the baton,” Stearns said in a statement. “I’m incredibly proud of what our team has built—the strength of the business today, our dominant position in the market, and the massive opportunity in front of us as we invest in innovative ways to better serve the channel. G Paul is the right leader to guide D-Tools into this exciting next chapter.”
In a post on LinkedIn that was timed with the announcement, Stearns noted that the transition is bittersweet—to be expected after having served this industry for over 30 years—but added that “it’s deeply reassuring to know this change has been thoughtfully timed and carefully planned.”
During his time at the helm, Stearns has overseen a period of dramatic expansion and modernization. The company has repositioned itself as a primarily on-site software provider to one that effectively redefined what it means to be a strong SaaS partner thanks to the launch of services like D-Tools Cloud. Additionally, over the past 10 years, D-Tools has placed a particular emphasis on recurring revenue and scalability, which has resulted in double-digit annual growth for the company and its partners.
Hess, a former integrator himself, brings decades of experience to the role. Most recently, he served as the Chief Product Officer at ADI Snap One.
“I’m honored to build on the extraordinary foundation Randy and the team have created,” Hess in the statement. “D-Tools is financially strong, strategically focused, and backed by the resources and talent to accelerate innovation in ways that will excite integrators and the broader channel. My priority is to listen to our customers, empower our team, and thoughtfully scale the strategy already in place as we unleash the company’s next wave of growth.”
D-Tools said that Stearns will “remain engaged” with the company throughout the transition period. He’ll serve in an active strategic and advisory capacity to support Hess as he steps into the role.
