Thunder Announces New GM, Salesforce Practice, Paul Chesek

We recently sat down with Thunder's new GM, Salesforce Practice, Paul Chesek - here's what he had to say!

What attracted you to the company at this stage of its growth, and why was now the right time to join?

I’ve admired the foundation Carter and the team have built from afar—great people, incredible customers, and a clear vision. But the 'why now' comes down to leadership. Thunder isn't just participating in the Call Center space; they are defining the agentic movement. I wanted to be part of the team that turns that movement into the industry standard, and there’s no better time to jump in than right as that acceleration is happening.

From your perspective, what are the most important growth priorities for the organization over the next 12–18 months?

The priority for the next 12–18 months is to solidify Thunder as the leader in Outcome-Driven AI. This requires a dual-track focus: 1. Modernizing the Foundation: Scaling our Data Cloud practice to ensure customers have the 'clean-fuel' needed for advanced automation. 2. Productizing Agency: Developing industry-specific agentic workflows that offer immediate ROI. Today’s market has lost the appetite for multi-year transformations; they want accelerated outcomes. By focusing on modular, consumable innovations, we allow organizations to realize value quickly while building toward a broader digital transformation."

How does your previous leadership experience inform how you think about scaling teams, partnerships, and revenue?  

Scaling teams and growing businesses through engagement of our great resources coupled with partnerships like Salesforce. Building teams that understand this is a team game where swarming customers and being present matter most and of course driving the right outcomes and value.

What industry trends are you watching most closely, and how do you expect them to impact our customers?  

The key industry trend is the accelerating pace of change, driven by AI, which is fundamentally reshaping customer expectations. We must not just react, but proactively lead this transformation. Leveraging AI is no longer a strategic choice—it's a prerequisite for competitive advantage. The greatest impact on our customers stems from their demand for immediate and tangible value. They have lost patience for lengthy, multi-year transformations. Therefore, our primary focus is on understanding how to unlock that value quickly, delivering modular, outcome-driven solutions that allow them to see an accelerated return on investment while simultaneously building toward a broader, AI-powered digital future.

As you step into this role, what does success look like for you one year from now?  

Success in this role will be the direct execution and enablement of the company's priorities, transforming the vision into industry-standard results:

Agentic Movement Leadership: Establishing Thunder as the team that turns the agentic movement into the industry standard.

Value Acceleration: Consistently delivering modular, consumable innovations that unlock rapid, measurable value for customers, moving past the appetite for multi-year transformations.

Team and Partnership Scale: Successfully scaling the teams and leveraging key partnerships to ensure a unified approach to "swarming customers" and delivering the right outcomes and value.

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