Finance, Risk and Sustainability Software Developer Workiva Hires Former SentinelOne CFO Barbara Larson

Workiva Inc. -- which develops finance, risk and sustainability software -- has hired SentinelOne veteran Barbara Larson as executive VP and chief financial officer (CFO), effective January 20, 2026.

Larson succeeds Jill Klindt, who previously announced plans to exit the business on December 26, 2025. CEO Julie Iskow will be interim CFO until Larson arrives.

The CFO transition arrives at a key time for Workiva. Indeed, the company announced strong financial results and channel partner wins in November 2025, despite some geopolitical headwinds in the carbon accounting and ESG software markets.

Workiva, which is striving to avoid an activist investor showdown, also hired Michael Pinto as chief revenue officer (CRO) around the November 2025 timeframe.

The Workiva partner strategy includes global and regional consulting firms, managed services providers (MSPs), resellers, technology firms and corporate communications specialists, the presentation noted. Partners can profit from solution implementations; high-value, high-margin services; and recurring service revenues.

Sustainability Software Market Growth Forecast

More than 30 companies offer various ESG, sustainability and carbon accounting software packages. The market headwinds have triggered numerous carbon accounting M&A deals in 2025.

Despite the recent sustainability market headwinds, market researchers remain upbeat about long-term growth prospects. For instance:

• The global ESG software market is expected to reach $2.73 billion by 2030, up from $940.7 million in 2023, according to Grand View Research. That's a 17.3% compound annual growth rate (CAGR).
•  The carbon accounting software market will reach $51.64 billion in 2029, up from $18.56 billion in 2024, according to The Business Research Company. That's a 22.9% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), the report said. 

Related: List of sustainability software market growth forecasts research reports.