MongoDB, a leader in modern databases, has announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Chirantan Desai as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective November 10, 2025. Desai succeeds Dev Ittycheria, who, after 11 years leading MongoDB, has decided to retire from a full-time operating role. Ittycheria will remain on MongoDB’s Board and serve as an advisor to Desai to ensure a seamless transition and continued execution of the Company’s long-term strategy.
The appointment follows a comprehensive CEO search supported by an executive search firm to identify a next-generation leader with deep experience in cloud infrastructure, AI, enterprise software, and product innovation – someone equipped to guide the Company on its continued journey towards durable, profitable growth.
“CJ brings an exceptional blend of product and engineering leadership, strong go-to-market execution, and firsthand experience scaling some of the world’s most transformative software companies,” said Tom Killalea, Chairman of the MongoDB Board of Directors. “From driving organic revenue growth at ServiceNow to innovating for the enterprise at Cloudflare, CJ has consistently demonstrated the ability to lead at scale. His deep understanding and early deployment of AI in the enterprise will be invaluable as MongoDB continues to deliver for its customers. CJ has the unanimous support of MongoDB’s Board, and we are thrilled to welcome a leader of his caliber as our next President and CEO.”
Desai joins MongoDB as a respected technology leader with over 25 years of experience pioneering innovative technology solutions in cloud infrastructure, enterprise software, cybersecurity, AI, and large-scale SaaS platforms. Most recently, Desai served as President of Product and Engineering at Cloudflare, where he drove product strategy and execution during a period of strong revenue growth and stock performance for the company. Prior to Cloudflare, Desai served as President and Chief Operating Officer at ServiceNow, where he helped organically scale the company from $1.5 billion to over $10 billion in annualized revenue. Desai has also previously held executive roles at EMC and Symantec, and he began his career with Oracle as a key member of the team that launched the company’s first cloud service.
“MongoDB has long been the partner of choice for building applications that transform businesses, and now it is uniquely positioned to power the next wave of AI-driven applications,” said CJ Desai, MongoDB’s incoming President and CEO. “My directive is clear: by staying relentlessly close to customers, delivering category-defining products, and executing at scale, we can seize the enormous opportunities ahead. I’m grateful for the foundation that Dev and the executive team have built and am honored to take the baton from Dev to guide MongoDB through its next phase of innovation and growth.”
“On behalf of the Board, I’d like to thank Dev for his extraordinary leadership and enduring contributions during his long tenure at MongoDB,” said Killalea. “Over the past eleven years, he led one of the great growth stories in enterprise software, transforming MongoDB from an early-stage disruptor into a global technology leader. Dev’s strategic vision, operational discipline, and ability to attract world-class talent have set the company on a path of lasting success. He built not just a great business, but a culture that inspires people to do the best work of their careers. The Board is profoundly grateful for his leadership and his continued partnership.”
“It has been the privilege of a lifetime to lead MongoDB since 2014, and I could not be prouder of what we have accomplished together,” said Dev Ittycheria, outgoing President and CEO of MongoDB. “Through relentless innovation, discipline, and teamwork, we transformed MongoDB into a global software leader with an enduring culture and a strong track record of execution. I am immensely grateful to our nearly 60,000 customers who have trusted and believed in us, to the incredible employees whose talent and dedication built this company into what it is today, and to our investors for their unwavering support and conviction in our mission. I have complete confidence in CJ’s leadership, experience, and judgment, and I look forward to supporting him and the executive team as they continue to build MongoDB into an iconic technology company.”
