IRIS Software Group, a global provider of accountancy, payroll, HR, and education software, has named Marissa Carlson its new Chief Marketing Officer, effective November 10. The move marks a pivotal step in the company’s strategy to sharpen its global marketing edge and sustain its rapid growth across key markets.
Carlson succeeds interim CMO Jonathan Priestley, who transitions into the newly created position of General Manager, Global Accountancy Solutions and Transformation—a role designed to reinforce IRIS’s heritage in accounting tech while scaling innovation for its cloud-based portfolio.
A Marketing Veteran With a Growth Mindset
Carlson brings nearly two decades of experience steering high-growth SaaS firms through brand evolution and market expansion. At TigerConnect, she led the company’s go-to-market overhaul and repositioning around unified communications—no small feat in the competitive health tech landscape. Prior to that, at Intelerad, she boosted the brand’s recognition and fueled its expansion in the U.S. acute care market.
“Marissa is an exceptional addition to our executive leadership team as we enter our next phase of transformational growth,” said Jason Dies, CEO of IRIS Software Group. “She has a proven ability to translate customer insight into strategic execution, build world-class marketing teams, and drive measurable business impact.”
Carlson herself noted that IRIS’s “solid foundation and talented global team” provide a springboard for accelerated growth in its core UK and North American markets, as well as for deeper international expansion.
Strengthening the Core: Global Accountancy Solutions
Meanwhile, Priestley’s appointment underscores IRIS’s renewed focus on its roots—the accountancy sector. Having spearheaded the launch of IRIS’s cloud-based solutions in the UK, Priestley now leads the charge to modernize the company’s accountancy offerings and ensure they evolve alongside clients’ changing needs.
His new remit blends market strategy, product positioning, and commercial enablement, aligning closely with IRIS’s push toward integrated, cloud-native solutions for accountants and professional services.
Dies praised Priestley’s “deep relationships with clients and unique market insight,” emphasizing his role in keeping IRIS’s products closely aligned with customer expectations—a recurring theme for the company as it aims to blend innovation with dependability.
The Bigger Picture: Positioning IRIS in a Crowded HR and Finance Tech Landscape
The leadership shuffle comes as the HR and financial software market continues its wave of consolidation and digital transformation. Competitors like Sage, Intuit, and Xero have been ramping up their own AI and automation investments, and IRIS’s latest moves suggest it’s doubling down on both marketing sophistication and product modernization to stay ahead.
For IRIS, Carlson’s arrival signals a more assertive global marketing posture and brand clarity, while Priestley’s role ensures that its core solutions remain grounded in customer realities. The combination positions IRIS to compete not just on software functionality but on customer experience—a battleground increasingly defining the next phase of HR and accountancy tech.
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