Fastr Appoints New CEO John Murdock, Accelerates Plans for Growth and Innovation

There's no question that speed can be the deciding factor when it comes to e-commerce and digital retail. There's more to it than that, but the buck generally stops when the clock hops.

Precious seconds count, so it's no wonder why brands are seeking new ways to accelerate and optimize their e-commerce properties. That's why platforms like Fastr exist: to raise the bar for online shopping experiences and deliver more sales. 

As a frontend service, Fastr seamlessly combines a rich set of design tools with intuitive orchestration capabilities, giving marketers, merchandisers, and creatives more control over their e-commerce sites – as well as the freedom to experiment at scale. 

We've spoken previously to Ryan Breen, the company's Chief Technology Officer, about Fastr's investment in a built-in, brand-aware AI assistant. This tool – along with other novel features – are helping teams to rapidly create, deploy, and optimize dynamic shopping experiences without the challenging reliance on developers. All of this innovation is strengthening the SaaS company's position in the super-charged e-commerce landscape.

Over the last year, Fastr has evolved on several fronts. The company's new identity emerged from the Zmags corporate umbrella (it was previously a product under the moniker of “Fastr Frontend”). Zmags is known for its Publicator digital catalog solution and Creator Studio software. The company also acquired Be A Part Of – an award-winning agency – last year. 

Now, Fastr is hitting the gas pedal on growth, which includes the appointment of John Murdock as its new Chief Executive Officer. As the company's press release points out, the move reflects Fastr's commitment to innovation and growth as it focuses on global brands and retailers seeking to “revolutionize their e-commerce presence.”

“As I step into the role of CEO at Fastr, I am filled with optimism for the future of our company and the e-commerce landscape as a whole," said Murdock. "Together with our dedicated team, we will not only embrace the opportunities presented by the evolving market landscape but also strive to shape its trajectory. I am excited about the incredible journey ahead and the chance to work collaboratively to unlock new possibilities for Fastr and our valued community of partners and clients." 

Proven technology pedigree and success

Murdock brings 30 years of technology sales and operations experience to his new role. Before joining Fastr, he served as CEO at Centage, an FP&A software platform provider. He also spent 7 years at Juniper Networks, holding a myriad of sales director roles. 

According to the press release, Murdock's expertise lies in scaling organizations through strategic process shifts and building high-performing teams to drive customer success and organizational efficiency. With Fastr, he is squarely focused on profitable growth.  

“Fastr has already established itself as a trusted partner for companies navigating the ever-evolving digital landscape,” said Murdock. “I’m thrilled to be leading a team that has earned the admiration of industry leaders, and excited to take Fastr into the future where it will be the go-to provider for all companies seeking cutting-edge e-commerce solutions.” 

Breen also emphasized the significance of Murdock joining the organization at this critical juncture for the business.

“John’s leadership comes at a time when we are redoubling our efforts to fortify our technology for the enterprise, incorporating cutting-edge advancements like artificial intelligence, and introducing new functionalities and service packages that will elevate Fastr's value proposition," he stated. "His arrival marks a milestone in our journey towards greater maturity as an organization, and we look forward to the incredible advancements and innovations that will define this chapter of Fastr’s story.” 

Leveraging product innovation to drive growth

Along with advancements in AI and other features, Fastr recently achieved SOC-2, Type 2 compliance, which the company sees as a boon to its growth prospects. Continuing with this trend of milestones, Murdock promises a big year of product enhancements for Fastr’s enterprise solutions. This includes:

• Fastr Frontend: designed for digital experience composition and experimentation
• Publicator: built for premium digital catalog creation
• MINIBC: offering subscription and payment management for BigCommerce-powered stores

Fastr is aiming to make a big market impact in the coming months, starting with its participation at eTail West from February 26th to 29th. The company will also attend other key industry events, including ShopTalk and the CommerceNext Ecommerce Growth Show later this year. These engagements reflect Fastr's goal of staying at the forefront of industry trends and building lasting partnerships. 

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