SafetyCulture, a globally recognized operations platform, is undergoing a significant leadership change as founder Luke Anear prepares to transition from his role as CEO. Effective January 1, 2025, Kelly Vohs will assume the position of CEO, while Anear shifts into the role of executive chairman.

Anear, who founded the company in 2004, has been instrumental in SafetyCulture’s evolution from a safety checklist app to a comprehensive operations platform. As executive chairman, he will continue to shape the company’s long-term vision and strategy while working closely with investors and the leadership team.

Explaining his decision, Anear noted that after two decades leading the company, the timing felt right for this transition. “I’ve always envisioned moving into an executive chairman role, and now is the right moment, both professionally and personally,” he said. “SafetyCulture is at an exciting stage of growth, particularly in the U.S., our largest market. Having a U.S.-based CEO like Kelly, who understands the intricacies of this market, will be a tremendous asset.”

Under Anear’s leadership, SafetyCulture has set ambitious targets, including a goal of reaching 100 million users by 2032. “We’ve made remarkable progress,” he added, highlighting that the target, once 100 times the company’s user base, is now only 50 times away.

Kelly Vohs brings a wealth of leadership experience, having previously served as the CEO of U.S.-based real estate firm LivCor. His appointment is expected to provide SafetyCulture with a strong foothold in the U.S. market and a fresh perspective on driving global growth.

Expressing his enthusiasm, Vohs stated, “It’s an honor to take on this role at such an exciting time for SafetyCulture. I’ve seen the transformative potential of the platform and am eager to lead the company toward its next milestones.”

SafetyCulture has been making waves in the workplace operations space, transforming how industries like construction, retail, and manufacturing manage safety and efficiency. Originally launched as a workplace safety app, the platform has expanded to offer tools for consumables, insurance, and artificial intelligence-driven insights.

The company’s ability to scale has been a defining feature of its recent growth. Some customers have significantly increased their usage, growing from 5,000 users to over 80,000 in the past year. However, rapid expansion brings challenges. “Scaling a platform to handle thousands of users per account is complex but critical for our continued success,” Anear acknowledged.

Despite navigating a challenging market, SafetyCulture recently secured $165 million in funding, split between $75 million in new capital and $90 million in secondary sales. While the company’s valuation dipped slightly to $2.5 billion, Anear described the funding as a win, emphasizing that the business is in its strongest position yet.

Financially, the company is narrowing losses and increasing revenue, reporting a 30% jump to $160.6 million in the last financial year. However, profitability remains a longer-term objective as SafetyCulture continues to invest heavily in AI and complementary services to drive sustainable growth.

SafetyCulture is not rushing to go public. Instead, it is focusing on creating liquidity opportunities for employees and investors, which Anear believes will offer greater control over the company’s future.