Email Marketing Leader Marigold Sets Sights on Growth with New CEO

Marigold, formerly known as Emma, is charting an ambitious growth trajectory under newly appointed CEO Mike Gordon. The Nashville-based email marketing company, which started as one of the city's earliest tech ventures outside healthcare 21 years ago, has grown from its humble beginnings to employ over 1,200 people globally.

With fresh funding of $126 million since April 2022 through its parent company Iris Holdings L.P., Marigold is positioning itself for major expansion into artificial intelligence and advanced marketing solutions. The company's product suite, including Sailthru and Campaign Monitor platforms, is set to see significant investment and development throughout 2025.

The leadership transition comes after impressive growth under former CEO Wellford Dillard, during which annual revenue nearly tripled to $440 million between 2018 and 2021. While Gordon operates from Boston with regular Nashville visits, the company maintains strong ties to its Music City roots where it all began with founder Clint Smith's vision to diversify Nashville's tech landscape beyond healthcare.