Stova Appoints Event Technology Industry Veteran as New CEO to Drive Next Phase of Growth

Stova, a leading event management technology platform, has announced the appointment of Kirk Ziehm as Chief Executive Officer. With over 20 years of exceptional leadership experience, including significant go-to-market experience in event technology, Kirk brings a wealth of expertise to Stova. Previously serving as CEO and board member of Movista, a retail execution SaaS company, Kirk will continue his involvement at Movista as a board member while taking on his new role as CEO of Stova.

Under the leadership of Eric Lochner, Stova's outgoing CEO, the company underwent a successful transition that integrated three industry leaders to create Stova's comprehensive technology platform. Eric led the launch of a new brand and steered the company towards its next stage of growth. While leaving Stova to pursue new opportunities outside event technology, Eric remains an investor in the company.

Mike Biggee, Managing Partner of Sunstone Partners, Stova's lead investor, expressed his confidence in Kirk's appointment, stating, "Kirk is an accomplished software leader with incredible depth in event technology. We are thrilled to bring him on as Stova's new CEO to help drive the next phase of growth. We are appreciative of the great contributions that Eric Lochner has made as CEO."

Stova's new CEO, Kirk Ziehm, recognizes the unique position the company holds in the event technology industry. He highlights the comprehensive suite of event technology solutions that Stova offers, emphasizing that they can deliver any event, regardless of size or complexity. Kirk is excited to join Stova's accomplished team during this inflection point in the company's growth trajectory and the industry's future. With changes in the entire event landscape post-Covid still being integrated into a new normal, Kirk is eager to work with Stova's customers and team to deliver excellence at any event scale, scope, or complexity.

About Stova:

Stova is the definitive event technology ecosystem with end-to-end solutions designed to deliver for any event, regardless of size or complexity. As the most complete full-service event management solution, Stova offers event organizers a comprehensive suite of tools. To learn more, visit [www.stova.io](https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stova.io&esheet=53883258&newsitemid=20240117598737&lan=en-US&anchor=www.stova.io&index=1&md5=775bfb239bd773be3e048dbd067081f8).

About Sunstone Partners:

Sunstone Partners is a growth-oriented private equity firm that invests in technology-enabled services and software businesses. With over $1.7 billion committed to its three funds, Sunstone Partners is dedicated to driving growth in its portfolio companies. The firm has been recognized on Inc. Magazine's "Founder-Friendly Investors" list multiple times, showcasing its commitment to supporting entrepreneurs and founders.