Maritime workforce management software company Ripple Operations, Washington, D.C., announced on Thursday that its board of directors has promoted Kara Sasse to chief executive officer.
Sasse succeeds Heather Combs, who led the company through a period of acquisition and integration.
“Ripple is entering a new phase focused on disciplined execution, product excellence, and scalable delivery,” said Chad Mitchell, executive chairman of Ripple Operations. “Kara brings a strong combination of product leadership, industry understanding, and execution rigor. The board has full confidence in her ability to guide Ripple through this next stage of growth.”
“I’m incredibly proud of what this team has accomplished together,” said Combs. “We’ve built a unified company with a shared identity and momentum. Kara is the right leader for this stage, and I have full confidence in her leadership as Ripple accelerates into its next phase.”
Ripple was formed through the integration of AdonisHR, ShipAdmin, Marine Learning Systems, and MarineCFO. The company provides software used to manage human resources functions for maritime employees working at sea and on shore.
Sasse joined Ripple in 2024 to strengthen the company’s product organization and worked across technology, client services, and go-to-market teams during the company’s post-acquisition integration period.
“Ripple has a unique opportunity to define the future of maritime HR by delivering a truly unified, end-to-end platform for our customers,” said Sasse. “We have a strong foundation, a committed team, and a clear mandate to execute. I’m excited to lead the organization as we sharpen our focus, scale responsibly, and deliver long-term value for our clients.”
As chief executive officer, Sasse will lead Ripple Operations through its 2026 strategic planning cycle, with an emphasis on product innovation, operational consistency, and client success, the company said.
