Folsom-based PowerSchool taps former AspenTech CEO as new leader
PowerSchool, the Folsom-based developer of cloud software for K-12 education, announced Tuesday that longtime CEO Hardeep Gulati will step down and transition into a senior advisory role. He will be succeeded in October by Antonio Pietri, former CEO of Aspen Technology.
Gulati has led PowerSchool for over a decade, overseeing its growth as the capital region’s largest publicly-traded company before it was privatized through a $5.6 billion acquisition by Bain Capital last October.
PowerSchool’s software solutions support more than 60 million students in over 90 countries.
Its flagship product, the Student Information System, manages student records for school districts. In January, a hacker breached the system through an account lacking two-factor authentication, in what may be the largest known exposure of American children’s personal information to date.
Other notable products include Schoology Learning, a classroom management tool; Naviance, a college and career readiness platform; and PowerBuddy for Engagement, a new conversational AI tool that helps families track their child’s education.
Pietri led AspenTech — a provider of optimization software for asset-heavy industries — from 2013 until its acquisition by Emerson in March.
“PowerSchool is uniquely positioned to shape the future of K-12 education technology,” said Pietri in a news release. “The company has built a strong foundation under Hardeep’s leadership, and I look forward to working with this talented team to accelerate our mission of delivering education software that drives better student outcomes and empowers educators nationwide.”
