Sphera appoints Colleen Prifogle as Chief Financial Officer

Sphera has appointed Colleen Prifogle as Chief Financial Officer, adding a senior finance leader to the software company's executive team.

Prifogle brings more than 25 years of finance leadership experience across software, technology, manufacturing and services businesses. Most recently, she served as Senior Vice President of Global Finance and Sales Operations at RLDatix, where she worked with executive leadership and private equity sponsors on financial planning, reporting and investment decisions.

Earlier in her career, she held senior finance and transformation roles at Amazon Web Services, Johnson Controls and Fiserv, covering enterprise planning, finance transformation and performance management in global organisations.

At Sphera, Prifogle will lead the global finance organisation and work with the Executive Leadership Team on financial planning and business visibility. Her remit also includes supporting strategic priorities as Sphera continues to develop its Operational Intelligence Platform.

The appointment comes as Sphera expands its leadership team during a period of growth. The company provides software focused on risk, safety and sustainability, serving 8,500 customers and more than one million users across 100 countries.

Paul Marushka, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sphera, said the hire reflects the company's focus on financial discipline as it grows.

"Colleen has built her career helping organizations develop the financial capabilities needed to scale successfully," said Paul Marushka, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sphera. "She has built high-performing finance teams, strengthened planning and forecasting and partnered with executive leadership to drive disciplined decision-making and long-term value creation. Her operational discipline and strategic perspective will help position Sphera for its next phase of growth."

Prifogle joins from healthcare software group RLDatix, where she oversaw global finance and sales operations. Her background also spans large corporate environments in cloud computing, industrial technology and payments, giving her experience across businesses with different cost structures and growth models.

Finance brief

The finance chief role has become more prominent in software companies under pressure to balance expansion with tighter control over spending and reporting. At Sphera, the appointment points to a focus on planning and oversight as the business develops its product portfolio and manages operations across international markets.

Sphera describes itself as an Operational Intelligence Platform that brings together data on environmental health and safety, sustainability, product stewardship, process safety and supply chains. Its software is designed to give organisations a clearer view of risk and operational performance.

Prifogle said the role offers an opportunity to strengthen finance as a partner to the wider business.

"Sphera has established itself as a market leader, and I was drawn to the opportunity to partner with the leadership team at an important point in the company's evolution," said Colleen Prifogle, Chief Financial Officer of Sphera. "I look forward to helping finance continue to strengthen its role as a strategic business partner across the organization, providing insights that help leadership make faster, more informed decisions. As Sphera continues to advance its Operational Intelligence Platform, including AI-powered capabilities, I see tremendous opportunity to create even greater value for our customers and shareholders."