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ECI Software Solutions Names Ron Books Chief Executive Officer

Business Wire

Longtime ECI leader returns as CEO; Trevor Gruenewald to remain a board member after 18 years with the company

WESTLAKE, Texas, October 19, 2026--ECI Software Solutions, Inc. ("ECI"), a leader in AI-powered, cloud-based business management software and services, today announced the appointment of Ron Books as Chief Executive Officer, effective October 26, 2026. Books, who previously served as ECI's CEO from 2009 to 2021, returns to lead the company as Trevor Gruenewald retires from the CEO role and remains on ECI's Board of Directors.

Gruenewald's transition follows 18 years with ECI, including nearly six years as CEO. During his tenure, ECI grew from a domestic software provider into a global company serving 25,000 customers across more than 90 countries. He helped lead the company's expansion across North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, oversaw more than 26 acquisitions spanning ECI's core industries, and advanced investments in cloud technology, AI and an increasingly connected portfolio of industry-specific solutions.

"Leading ECI has been one of the greatest privileges of my career, and I am incredibly proud of what this team has built together," said Gruenewald. "ECI is in a position of tremendous strength, with the right strategy, people, and technology designed to help small and mid-sized businesses compete and grow. As I considered what was right for both my family and ECI's next chapter, it felt like the right time to make this transition. I'm thrilled that Ron has agreed to return, and I look forward to working alongside him as a member of the Board."

"It has been a privilege to partner with Trevor, who built ECI into a global leader in mission-critical software for small and mid-sized businesses. We thank him for his leadership and are pleased he will continue to guide ECI as a board member," said Usama Cortas, ECI Board member and Partner at Leonard Green & Partners, L.P. "We are equally excited to welcome Ron back as CEO. Ron led ECI through its formative years and knows its customers, people, and markets deeply. He is a proven leader with the vision to further strengthen ECI's position in its markets, and we are confident he and the management team will build on ECI's momentum and continue to accelerate its growth in this next chapter."

"We're thrilled to have Ron back as CEO of ECI. Apax backed Ron in 2017 to lead a transformation of the company. He tripled the size of the business and led ECI's transition to the cloud," said Jason Wright, ECI Board member and Partner at Apax Partners. "Now he is poised to lead ECI to become the global leader in AI-powered ERP and business management software for small and mid-sized businesses. We're looking forward to continuing to work with Trevor in his board capacity and thank him for his hugely successful tenure at the helm of ECI."

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