Lightspeed Executive and Leadership Team

November, 2026

Leadership Overview

Lightspeed has 6 executives leading key functions including strategy, operations, revenue, finance, and legal.

Focused on empowering global commerce, Lightspeed delivers cloud-based software and payment solutions that enable retailers and restaurants to manage operations, engage consumers, and scale business across international markets.

Leadership Roles at Lightspeed

  • Chief Executive Officer - Ruth Garcis
  • Founder & Chief Executive Officer - Biju Kulathakal
  • Chief Financial Officer - Asha Bakshani
  • Chief Operating Officer - Kyle Mahan
  • Chief Revenue Officer - Gabriel Benavides
  • Chief Legal Officer - Daniel Micak
  • Ruth Garcis - Chief Executive Officer

    Ruth Garcis, the Chief Executive Officer at Lightspeed, directs the overarching corporate strategy and long-term vision for the cloud-based commerce platform. Garcis manages the executive team to ensure alignment across all global business units, including retail and restaurant software divisions. By prioritizing innovation in payment solutions, the Chief Executive Officer drives market expansion throughout North America and international territories. Ruth Garcis maintains constant communication with the Board to secure sustainable growth and operational excellence. This leadership role involves identifying emerging market trends that impact the competitive landscape of commerce software. Through rigorous oversight of organizational performance, Garcis optimizes internal processes to support the diverse needs of multilocation retailers and golf course operators. Ultimately, the Chief Executive Officer fosters a culture of high performance, ensuring the company remains a leader in providing essential digital tools for modern business owners worldwide.

    Biju Kulathakal - Founder & Chief Executive Officer

    Biju Kulathakal, the Founder & Chief Executive Officer at Lightspeed, architects the foundational technology roadmap and product philosophy for the company. Kulathakal focuses on the evolution of the software platform, ensuring the architecture supports complex payment integrations for restaurants and retailers. As the Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Kulathakal evaluates new technological frontiers to maintain the competitive edge of the cloud-based subscription model. This role involves deep collaboration with engineering teams to refine user experiences across diverse global markets. Biju Kulathakal monitors the scalability of the infrastructure to accommodate the needs of growing businesses in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. By championing a product-first approach, Kulathakal ensures that the platform remains intuitive for operators while delivering robust backend functionality. Through constant iteration of the core software, the Founder & Chief Executive Officer secures the long-term technical viability and market relevance of the entire commerce ecosystem.
    Biju Kulathakal

    Asha Bakshani - Chief Financial Officer

    Asha Bakshani, the Chief Financial Officer at Lightspeed, directs the financial planning, reporting, and capital allocation strategies for the organization. Bakshani manages the fiscal health of the company, ensuring that investments in cloud-based software development and payment infrastructure align with revenue goals. As the Chief Financial Officer, Bakshani oversees the budgeting process and financial risk management across all international operations. This role involves providing critical data to the Board to support strategic decision-making regarding market expansion and product development. Asha Bakshani monitors the financial performance of the retail and restaurant segments to ensure profitability and sustainable growth. By maintaining rigorous financial controls, the Chief Financial Officer supports the company's ability to scale operations in North America, Europe, and beyond. This leadership position requires constant vigilance over market volatility and economic trends. Through precise financial stewardship, Bakshani ensures the company maintains a strong balance sheet to support ongoing innovation and long-term value creation.

    Kyle Mahan - Chief Operating Officer

    Kyle Mahan, the Chief Operating Officer at Lightspeed, directs the daily execution of business operations and internal scaling initiatives. Mahan oversees the efficiency of service delivery for cloud-based software subscriptions, ensuring seamless support for retailers and restaurant clients. As the Chief Operating Officer, Mahan manages cross-functional workflows to streamline the deployment of payment solutions across North America and Europe. This leadership position requires constant coordination with department heads to optimize resource allocation and operational output. Kyle Mahan implements rigorous performance metrics to track the health of the business model, focusing on the operational requirements of multilocation enterprises. By refining internal processes, Mahan enhances the speed and reliability of the platform for global users. The Chief Operating Officer maintains a sharp focus on operational agility, allowing the company to adapt quickly to changing market demands while supporting the overarching goal of providing high-quality commerce tools to diverse business operators.

    Gabriel Benavides - Chief Revenue Officer

    Gabriel Benavides, the Chief Revenue Officer at Lightspeed, directs all global sales strategies and customer acquisition efforts. Benavides manages the expansion of the subscription base, targeting retailers, restaurants, and golf course operators across international markets. As the Chief Revenue Officer, Benavides aligns sales teams with marketing initiatives to maximize the adoption of cloud-based payment solutions. This role involves developing high-impact strategies to penetrate new geographic regions, including the United Kingdom and New Zealand. Gabriel Benavides monitors revenue streams and customer retention rates to ensure consistent financial growth. By fostering strong relationships with key enterprise clients, the Chief Revenue Officer drives the expansion of the company's market footprint. This leadership position requires constant analysis of sales performance data to refine outreach tactics. Through the execution of targeted growth plans, Benavides secures the company's position as a premier provider of commerce software, ensuring that revenue targets remain consistent with long-term corporate objectives.
    Daniel Micak, the Chief Legal Officer at Lightspeed, directs all legal affairs, regulatory compliance, and corporate governance initiatives. Micak manages the complex legal landscape surrounding cloud-based software subscriptions and payment processing across multiple international jurisdictions. As the Chief Legal Officer, Micak ensures that the company adheres to data privacy laws and financial regulations in North America, Europe, and the United Kingdom. This role involves mitigating legal risks associated with global expansion and protecting the intellectual property of the commerce platform. Daniel Micak provides essential guidance to the executive team on contractual obligations and corporate policy. By overseeing compliance frameworks, the Chief Legal Officer enables the business to operate securely while serving diverse restaurant and retail clients. This leadership position requires constant monitoring of evolving regulatory requirements in the fintech sector. Through proactive legal strategy, Micak safeguards the company's interests and supports the integrity of the entire commerce ecosystem.
    Daniel Micak

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    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Lightspeed Top Executives and Leadership Team

    Who leads Lightspeed?
    Lightspeed is led by Ruth Garcis (Chief Executive Officer), along with executives such as Biju Kulathakal (Founder & Chief Executive Officer) and Asha Bakshani (Chief Financial Officer).
    Who is part of Lightspeed’s executive team?
    The executive team of Lightspeed includes leaders such as Ruth Garcis (Chief Executive Officer), Biju Kulathakal (Founder & Chief Executive Officer), Asha Bakshani (Chief Financial Officer) and other senior executives.
    How many executives does Lightspeed have?
    Lightspeed has 6 executives leading key business areas.
    What roles are included in Lightspeed’s leadership team?
    The leadership team of Lightspeed includes roles such as Chief Executive Officer, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Revenue Officer.