We’re excited to announce that Brian Smith has joined Backstroke as our new Chief Technology Officer. Brian is a proven technology leader who has spent his career building and advising scalable, effective messaging platforms at some of the most influential companies in the industry—including ExactTarget, Cheetah Digital, and Emarsys. His deep expertise in email, SMS, and push notification systems positions him perfectly to drive Backstroke’s technology vision forward.

Throughout his career, Brian has demonstrated an ability to build, lead and advise high-performing engineering teams while developing solutions trusted by thousands of marketers worldwide. At ExactTarget, Brian was instrumental in scaling the platform ahead of its $2.7 billion acquisition by Salesforce. Later, at Cheetah Digital and Emarsys, he led technology teams through periods of rapid growth and innovation, earning a reputation for thoughtful leadership and a clear focus on customer success.

Brian’s arrival at Backstroke comes at an exciting time as we continue expanding our generative messaging platform. His experience in delivering reliable, user-focused products will help us keep pace with increasing demand while ensuring our technology remains intuitive and effective for our customers.

If you’d like to meet Brian and learn more about his vision for Backstroke’s technology, he'll be available at our upcoming event, Longaxis 2025. Longaxis is our annual gathering dedicated to exploring the future of email, SMS, and push notification marketing. Industry leaders, marketers, investors, and tech enthusiasts will have the opportunity to connect with Brian and the rest of our team to discuss the latest developments and future trends.

Brian’s hire reflects our commitment to innovation, excellence, and sustainable growth. As we move forward, we’re actively seeking talented engineers, data scientists, and product experts interested in shaping the next era of marketing technology. If you're passionate about building impactful products, we'd love to connect.

We’re thrilled to welcome Brian Smith to the Backstroke team and look forward to the impact his leadership will bring.

To join us at Longaxis 2025 and meet Brian in person, visit backstroke.com/longaxis-2025.