Former Google, Microsoft exec Javier Soltero steps down from Canva enterprise role

The executive who managed Canva’s enterprise business has stepped down amid the design giant’s overhaul to target more corporate clients.

Canva has unveiled an overhaul of its platform.

A former Google and Microsoft executive who managed Canva’s enterprise business for several months has stepped down amid a major overhaul at the design giant as it targets more corporate clients.

Javier Soltero, who joined the company in November 2022 before taking on the enterprise role last year, has quietly transitioned into an advisory role.

News of the move comes days after Canva unveiled an overhaul of its platform as it prepares to target the larger enterprise market ahead of a potential public listing.

Canva held its Create conference outside of Australia for the first time last week, taking its ­annual tech showcase to Los Angeles – a move many speculated was an attempt to woo investors and get its product in front of larger US clients.

At Create, Canva unveiled Canva Enterprise, a product that builds on its Pro and Teams versions; Canva Work Kits, a set of tools and templates for different teams within an organisation; significant upgrades to its Visual Suite and Magic Studio; and Canva Courses, which allows companies to make their own training modules.

The ability to design training modules appears to be big business for many tech platforms, with Canva’s Sydney neighbour SafetyCulture announcing a similar feature in October last year.

US-based Mr Soltero will return to an advisory role at Canva, a spokesman said.

Former Canva enterprise general manager Javier Soltero. Picture: LinkedIn

“Javier has been an invaluable adviser to Canva for many years and played an important operational role over the last few months to drive a number of crucial projects as we accelerated our enterprise strategy,” he said.

“With his support and our strategy now in place, Javier has transitioned back to an advisory role and continues to provide support and guidance in this ­capacity.”

Mr Soltero joined Canva after about three years at Google as the vice-president and general manager of its Google Workspace product, where he worked on products including Gmail, Calendar, Docs, Drive and video calling service Meet.

Before Google, he spent four years at Microsoft across various senior roles, including general manager of the mobile version of its email product Outlook (formerly Hotmail), as well as the corporate vice-president of Microsoft Office, where he helped the company develop a strategy for the mobile version of its applications, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Mr Soltero’s transition is the second major executive shift at Canva this year, following the departure of former chief financial officer Damien Singh.

Mr Singh left amid an investigation after online allegations of inappropriate behaviour were made. It is understood Mr Singh denies the claims.