Kinsta just made a big move in its leadership team. On September 9, 2025, the company named Jon Penland its new chief executive officer and brought in Matt Reid as chief marketing officer. This comes at a time when web hosting providers face rapid changes from AI tools reshaping how sites get built and traffic flows.
For those in the WordPress world, Kinsta has long stood out for its reliable managed WordPress hosting, and these appointments signal fresh energy to keep that edge sharp.
I remember when Kinsta first hit the scene back in 2013. It started as a small outfit focused on making WordPress hosting simpler and faster, powered by Google Cloud. Now, with over 140,000 customers spread across 128 countries, it’s clear they’ve grown into a powerhouse.
Penland’s promotion from within feels right, like handing the keys to someone who knows every corner of the operation. Reid’s arrival adds outside firepower, especially as AI starts influencing everything from site creation to search results. This shift could help Kinsta stay ahead in a crowded market where speed and smarts matter most.
Kinsta’s Leadership Transition Signals Growth Phase
Kinsta’s decision to promote from inside while hiring a marketing pro shows careful planning. Mark Gavalda, the founder who stepped down as CEO, will stick around as chairman and board member. He praised Penland’s deep knowledge of the company.
Jon is the perfect person to lead Kinsta in its new stage of growth. He knows the company as well as anyone — having worked across the organization to build it to what it is today,
Mark Gavalda, Founder & Former CEO of Kinsta, Current Chairman & Board Member.
Gavalda built Kinsta from the ground up, and his ongoing role ensures continuity. These changes aim to build on years of steady progress, including adding nearly 40,000 new sites last year alone.
Jon Penland Steps Up as CEO
Jon Penland brings nine years of hands-on experience to the top spot. He joined Kinsta as a support engineer back in 2016, after starting as a freelance writer for their blog.
Over time, he moved into sales, operations, and customer success roles, eventually becoming chief operating officer. For the last six years, Penland has served on the board, helping shape major decisions.
What stands out about Penland is his path from the front lines to the executive suite. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a focus on marketing from a small college in northeast Georgia. Outside work, he’s a family man who enjoys trail running.
I joined Kinsta nine years ago because I was impressed by its reputation for industry-leading performance and high quality support,
Jon Penland, Kinsta’s CEO
In his new role, Penland wants to keep Kinsta’s strong culture intact, one that values trust, transparency, and hard work mixed with fun. He sees huge potential in helping customers handle new web traffic patterns driven by AI.
There’s a lot of room for us to grow. We see tremendous opportunity to help customers adapt to massive shifts in how the world discovers, consumes and drives web traffic. The sky is the limit.
Jon Penland, Kinsta’s CEO
Matt Reid Arrives as Chief Marketing Officer
Matt Reid joins Kinsta from BigCommerce, where he worked as senior vice president. With more than 20 years in SaaS marketing and sales, Reid knows how to connect with small businesses, agencies, and large enterprises.
Matt earned a BA in business, economics, and political science from UC Santa Barbara, followed by an MBA in marketing from California State University-Sacramento. Based in Santa Barbara, Reid has a track record of driving growth in competitive tech spaces.
Reid’s skills should boost Kinsta’s outreach efforts. He plans to refine strategies that reach more users worldwide. Penland noted that Reid’s full-funnel expertise will strengthen partnerships and marketing efforts.
Matt’s deep understanding of the entire funnel will supercharge our marketing and partnership efforts. I’m excited to see how he guides Kinsta as we move into our new phase of growth.
Jon Penland, Kinsta’s CEO
Reid himself expressed excitement about joining a profitable company with top-notch service and innovation.
I’m thrilled to be joining Kinsta at this exciting stage of expansion. The company’s impressive track record of revenue growth and profitability, world-class service and product innovation is a recipe for success.
Matt Reid, CMO of Kinsta
Embracing AI in the WordPress Hosting Landscape
The timing of these hires lines up with bigger industry trends. AI is rapidly transforming web development, from automated website builders to more sophisticated traffic analysis. Kinsta plans to update its pricing and packages to fit these shifts.
They aim to use AI for internal tasks, like streamlining workflows, but will keep human experts at the core of support. This balance appeals to users who want tech advances without losing personal touch.
Penland stressed the need for customers to gain better control over bot interactions on their sites. As AI powers more searches and content discovery, hosting providers must adapt quickly.
Kinsta’s focus remains on WordPress, which they view as vital for years to come. Recent talks at events like WordCamp U.S. 2025 highlighted open-source principles and performance in an AI world. These steps position Kinsta to help agencies and e-commerce stores thrive amid evolving demands.
From what I’ve seen in the hosting space, companies that blend AI with strong fundamentals often pull ahead. Kinsta’s approach feels grounded yet forward-looking. They have a good DeanScore rating on HostDean and earned top marks in G2’s 2025 awards for WordPress hosting, proving their market lead in satisfaction and presence.
Kinsta’s Enduring Focus on WordPress Excellence
Kinsta started with a simple goal: deliver the best hosting platform possible. Founded by a group of friends, including Mark Gavalda, it launched publicly in 2014.
Early on, they chose Google Cloud for its speed and reliability, setting them apart from shared hosting options. Today, their team of over 300 handles everything from high-traffic stores to agency projects, with round-the-clock support in ten languages.
This latest chapter builds on that foundation. With Penland and Reid at the helm, expect more innovations tailored to real user needs. In a field where uptime and security define success, Kinsta continues to prioritize what matters.
About Kinsta
Kinsta provides managed WordPress hosting built on cloud hosting powered by Google Cloud infrastructure. Their services include application hosting, database hosting, and specialized tools for developers and businesses.
Kinsta users get features like automatic backups, malware removal, and CDN integration for global speed. Agencies benefit from white-label reseller hosting options and team collaboration tools. Kinsta serves everyone from startups to enterprises, emphasizing security, performance, and expert guidance to keep sites running smoothly.