Cirne Lewis

About Cirne Lewis

Lew Cirne is a well-known technology executive and entrepreneur in enterprise software and observability. He is best known as the founder of New Relic, which he launched in 2008 and led as Chief Executive Officer for many years before transitioning to Executive Chairman of the Board in July 2021. New Relic was built around a vision focused on measuring, understanding, and improving application performance and digital experiences, and under Cirne’s leadership it became one of the best-known names in Application Performance Management and later in modern observability. ([newrelic.com](https://newrelic.com/press-release/20210513?utm_source=openai)) Before New Relic, Cirne had already established a strong reputation in software infrastructure. Available sources indicate that he founded Wily Technology, served as its first CEO, and later saw the company acquired by CA Technologies in 2006. His background also includes technical roles at Apple and Hummingbird Communications, showing a career that blends engineering depth with product strategy and company building. He earned an AB in Computer Science from Dartmouth College. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lew_Cirne?utm_source=openai)) At New Relic, Cirne played a central role in shaping the product roadmap and reinforcing a developer-first culture. Public company materials describe him as an inventor, technologist, and strategist, with a strong focus on innovation, data, and helping businesses transform through software. During his tenure, New Relic expanded its platform and strengthened its position with major global customers. He also oversaw the leadership transition that brought Bill Staples in as CEO, while Cirne continued to contribute at the board level. ([newrelic.com](https://newrelic.com/press-release/20210513?utm_source=openai)) From an executive-profile perspective, Lew Cirne is closely associated with creating and scaling a software category, as well as with a long-term view of how companies should monitor and improve mission-critical applications. He is a strong fit for SEO content focused on corporate governance, software innovation, and founder-led leadership in U.S.-listed technology companies. ([forbes.com](https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucerogers/2017/06/14/ceo-coder-lew-cirne-created-new-relic-to-measure-software-code-performance/?utm_source=openai))