Matt Russell (pictured above) has been appointed as the new CEO of leading benefits technology platform, Zest, succeeding Ray Sieber who is retiring after 10 years at the helm.  

Zest is an employee benefits platform that offers flexible benefits services for a wide range of well-known businesses across the world, including Hargreaves Lansdown, Taylor Wimpey, ADP and Travis Perkins. 

Russell brings with him significant experience in the workplace and benefits platform sector. Prior to becoming CEO he was Chief Commercial Officer at cloud-based HR-software business, Ciphr, and before that was Chief Sales Officer at workplace platform provider, Benefex and Sales Director at HR solutions provider, LHH Penna. Russell has a long, successful history of leading large teams across multiple regions, executing global and enterprise sales strategies and M&A. 

As Zest marks its 20 year anniversary, Sieber announced his plan to take a ‘long overdue’ retirement. He will step back from the position this month, having guided the business through a period of major transformation, out of corporate ownership in 2021, and through a decade of strong growth. 

Under his leadership, and following a £10 million investment programme, the business launched the Zest platform in 2018, transforming the employee experience and dramatically lowering the costs for companies to adopt a modular, multi-function platform that can manage complex benefits programmes. Zest’s benefits and software services have experienced rapid take-up, with over 700 customers now using Zest to provide flexible, personalised employee benefits.  

Sieber remains as an investor in Zest and will continue to be involved with the business in a non-executive advisory capacity.  

Ray Sieber, outgoing CEO of Zest, commented: “I am delighted to welcome Matt Russell as the incoming CEO who is as passionate as I am about offering our customers an exceptional platform backed by an exceptional service. I know Matt will do a brilliant job of leading the business through the next stage in its exciting growth journey.  

It has been a privilege to lead the business over the past decade and to work with some wonderful customers, partners and all the talented people at Zest. I am hugely excited for what the future holds and I look forward to watching the business go from strength to strength in the workplace market.” 

Matt Russell, CEO of Zest, commented: “I am thrilled to be joining Zest and am also grateful to have received such a warm welcome from Ray and the rest of the team. Zest have an amazing reputation for providing best in class technology overlayed with exceptional service that delivers a truly exceptional and personalised experience for their customers and their employees.

I am proud to have been given the opportunity to drive the business forward and I am excited to deliver further value to our customers, our partners and their employees.” 

The announcements follow a year of major sales wins, with plans to continue boosting Zest’s position as a market leading employee benefits platform, giving customers an unrivalled and personalised experience for them and their employees.