Level up your internal communications

Roy Schwartz

Chief Executive Officer

Roy Schwartz is co-founder and CEO at Axios HQ, the world’s first AI-powered internal communications management platform. In HQ’s first two years, Roy guided its spinout from Axios Media — to be a standalone high-growth SaaS startup — and closed HQ’s $20 million Series A. 

He’s also the co-founder of Axios, the award-winning news organization known for its Smart Brevity® writing style. Roy oversaw company strategy and business operation, led Axios through multiple funding rounds, and closed its $525 million acquisition by Cox Enterprises.

Zoom in:

• Roy was the executive producer of Axios’ Emmy Award-winning docu-news series “Axios on HBO.”

• He is also the co-author of “Smart Brevity: The Power of Saying More with Less,” a book that shares the research behind Smart Brevity — and how anyone can be a more effective communicator.

Prior to Axios, Roy was… 

• Politico’s Chief Revenue Officer, scaling the company Axel Springer would later acquire for more than $1 billion.

• Gallup’s Partner in management consulting practice for Washington D.C. and California, advising Fortune 500 companies on employee and customer engagement.

Connie Marean

Chief People Officer

Connie Marean is the Chief People Officer at Axios HQ. Since taking over the company’s recruiting and people ops teams in 2023, Connie has shown a passion for building outstanding workforces and vibrant cultures.

• Zoom in: She is a subject matter expert in revamping business cultures and growing engagement in entrepreneurial organizations — through transformative talent development, operational transformation, and complex leadership strategies. 

Prior to Axios HQ, Connie was…

• Head of People at Metaplex Studios, scaling its people function.

• Chief Talent Officer and Employment Counsel at The Windquest Group, building its HR department and playing a vital role in team growth from 210 to 1,400+ employees across 28+ states.

• Corporate Counsel at Amway, supporting domestic business units and global immigration and providing counsel on employment law and immigration matters.

Dave Cumberland

Chief Technology Officer

Dave Cumberland is the Chief Technology Officer at Axios HQ. Since taking over the company’s tech teams in 2021, Dave has scaled infrastructure, more than tripled staff, and established Axios HQ as the tech leader in smartly — but safely — bringing AI-powered software into internal communications.

• Zoom in: He plays a key role in defining Axios HQ’s strategic growth plan, ensured business continuity through its 2022 spinout from Axios Media, and helped secure the $20 million Series A that closed in 2023. 

Prior to Axios HQ, Dave was…

• VP of Engineering at Pluralsight, through its $3.5 billion acquisition by Vista Equity Partners. 

• VP of Engineering at GitPrime, through its $170 million acquisition by Pluralsight. 

• Chief Technology Officer and Chief Product Officer at Shopatron through its acquisition by Vista Equity Partners

Chris Willis

Chief Marketing Officer

Chris Willis is the CMO at Axios HQ. The company’s first c-suite marketing leader, Chris brings over 20 years of experience guiding tech and AI companies through accelerated growth.

• Zoom in: He joined Axios HQ as it smashed a startup milestone — exceeding $10 million in ARR — and brings the global market strategy, pipeline management skills, and team mentorship and recruitment HQ needs to fuel its next phase.

Prior to Axios HQ, Chris was…

• Chief Marketing and Pipeline Officer at Acrolinx, an AI-native content platform where he led the creation and launch of its generative AI offering, oversaw the health of the commercial pipeline, and increased marketing’s contribution to pipeline by 2500%.

• CMO at Perfecto Mobile, a digital software company where he led a successful effort to develop — and lead — a new software category, rebranded the company to invigorate and align messaging and positioning, and helped grow sales 700%+ in three years.

• CMO at mobile app development pioneers Pyxis Mobile/Verivo Software.

Diana Ciontea

SVP of Finance

Diana Ciontea is the Senior Vice President of Finance at Axios HQ. The company’s first finance executive, Diana is known for her expertise in financial operations, forecasting, and analysis.

• Zoom in: She joined Axios HQ mid-fundraise and helped structure some of the most important details in HQ’s $20 million Series A. At past SaaS companies, she oversaw revenues from $5 million to $100 million and guided one firm through a successful exit.

Prior to Axios HQ, Diana was…

• VP of Finance at ProductPlan, creating its finance function and raising significant growth equity in a sale to a financial buyer.

• Director of Finance at FastSpring, launching FP&A, partnering closely with owners AKKR, and adding revenue through a repricing initiative.

• Director of Finance at ZestFinance (now ZestAI), raising a successful Series D from a strategic investor, refinancing the company’s debt facility, and leading plans to pivot the company to an enterprise SaaS solution.

Paul Pedrazzi

Chief Product Officer

Paul Pedrazzi is the Chief Product Officer at Axios HQ. In taking over the company’s product and design teams in 2024, Paul brings more than 20 years of product innovation and leadership experience from technology companies across the nation.

• Zoom in: He is a subject matter expert from every angle — new product development, product management, design, social software strategy, product marketing — and loves building products that make people’s lives better, at work or at home. 

Prior to Axios HQ, Paul was…

• SVP of Product at Salesforce, reinventing the world’s #1 CRM for small business. 
  

• GM and Head of Design at CA Technologies, shifting multiple product lines back into growth.
  
  
• Advisor at Flipboard,acting as a key sounding board for the founding team.

Sean Garrett

Chief Communications Officer

Sean Garrett is the Chief Communications Officer at Axios HQ. In taking over the company’s communications leadership and expert communities in 2024, Sean brings the experience of senior counsel to some of the most dynamic organizations in the last 30 years and entrepreneurial success in building new communications businesses.

• Zoom in: Also the founder and leader of Mixing Board — a sought-after community of the nation’s top comms, brand, and marketing leaders — Sean and his team joined Axios HQ when it acquired the organization to help support the industry’s top professionals.  

Prior to Axios HQ, Sean was…

• Co-founder of Pramana Collective, the cutting-edge communication consultancy with clients that included Airbnb, Dreamworks, Conde Nast, and Slack.
• VP of Comms at Twitter, the company’s first comms and marketing hire.
• Co-founder of 463 Communications, the industry's first tech policy communication firm that bridged the gap between Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C.

Tristyn Hassani

Head of Internal Comms

Tristyn Hassani is Head of Internal Communications at Axios HQ. She’s been a part of the team since day one and partners with stakeholders across the organizations to set strategy, improve operations and help the entire organization be more efficient and effective. She currently leads the strategy and operations team and oversees internal and executive operations.

• Zoom in: Tristyn joined Axios Media in 2019 to support its three co-founders and was quickly promoted to Deputy Chief of Staff — she played a critical role during the sale of Axios to Cox Enterprises and then moved over to Axios HQ full-time.

Prior to Axios, Tristyn has over a decade of experience across the finance, consulting, and technology sectors.