Randy Stearns is “downshifting” from his role as CEO at D-Tools, appointing G Paul Hess in his place, CE Pro’s sister publication Commercial Integrator found.
Randy Stearns ‘Downshifts’ From D-Tools CEO Role
The decision to appoint Hess as CEO is part of a long-planned leadership succession, with Stearns intending to remain actively involved to ensure a smooth, orderly handoff and continued momentum for the business. That includes plans to serve in an active strategic and advisory capacity to support Hess, the leadership team, and key customer and partner relationships.
Over the past 10 years, Stearns, as CEO, guided D-Tools through a period of substantial expansion and modernization, transforming the company from a traditional on‑premises software provider into a dynamic SaaS leader for the electronic systems channel.
Notably, under Stearns’ leadership, the company launched D-Tools Cloud and strengthened its focus on recurring revenue and scalability. What’s more, it delivered double-digit annual recurring revenue growth, establishing D-Tools as a category leader and a trusted, long-term partner to systems integrators and industry suppliers.
In an exclusive interview with Commercial Integrator, Stearns says, “From a market timing standpoint as it relates to D-Tools, with the recent capital infusion into the business, [and] with AI having the impact that it’s having in the software industry and the ground moving under our feet constantly, I feel like opportunity and threats abound. And I think it’s important that we are seizing the opportunities in the right and best way.”
Now, Stearns says, is the time for a leader with the “fire in their belly” to take D-Tools through the journey ahead, a journey replete with both challenges and opportunities. “And I think G Paul is a great choice for doing that,” he adds.
Who is G Paul Hess?
G Paul Hess has decades of experience in the electronic systems industry. He began his career as an integrator and, later, held senior and executive leadership roles across product, sales and marketing at organizations that include Snap One (when he was featured on the CE Pro Podcast) and ADI.
Hess has worked closely with integrators, manufacturers and channel partners throughout his career. Thus, he has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the electronic systems community. Moreover, he has a vision for how D-Tools’ platform can unlock greater efficiencies, profitability and growth.
In a separate interview with Commercial Integrator, Hess, reflecting on AI as the preeminent buzzword in our industry today, says we’ve reached a turning point in technology.
“My job is to empower the team and to accelerate the growth and the investments so that we can continue on this incredible growth pattern,” he explains. “And AI is going to be a big part of that.”
Hess elaborates further, saying, “AI is part of how we do business internally — you know, the processes and the tools that we use — but also, of course, for the integrators [and] how they use AI to be successful with our tools.” Hess adds, “The strategy and the roadmap the team has built have been fantastic. And, again, it’s just how do we move even faster than the great pace the company’s already been on?”
D-Tools’ Product Roadmap Remains Central Focus in Midst of Transition
On the point of leadership continuity, Hess exclusively tells Commercial Integrator, “[Randy and I have] had a longstanding industry relationship and have worked extremely well together, and Randy will be a very strong partner in my onboarding and my learning of the company. He’s the subject matter expertise — he’s been the passion, waving the banner of the company. And so, it will be great to have a partner to help me accelerate my onboarding into this role, and I look very forward to working with him.”
Offering his congratulations to Stearns on downshifting from the CEO role, Hess adds, “Thanks for what a great position [you have] put the company in for us to continue this growth trajectory.”
D-Tools’ product roadmap, customer commitments and focus on the electronic systems integration community will remain central priorities. The next several months will focus on seizing this new energy and having the freedom to leverage investments to expand the value and impact of D-Tools’ solutions for channel stakeholders.
Later this week, Commercial Integrator will publish an in-depth, exclusive interview with Stearns and Hess. In it, they discuss the rationale behind this long-planned succession, D-Tools’ plans for the future and how channel stakeholders stand to benefit from D-Tools’ continued growth.
