Stephen Laster takes helm at Panopto to boost AI-powered learning tools
Panopto, the leading AI-powered video learning platform, has announced the appointment of Stephen Laster as its new Chief Executive Officer. A seasoned technology and product executive, Laster brings over 20 years of experience leading innovation and digital transformation in education and enterprise software.
Laster joins Panopto from D2L, where he most recently served as President. His background also includes executive roles at McGraw-Hill Education, Ellucian, Harvard Business School, and Babson College. Across these institutions, he led high-impact teams and developed industry-defining platforms that have shaped learning experiences for millions worldwide.
At Panopto, Laster is expected to lead the company’s continued global expansion as it scales its AI-powered platform across learning, training, and communication use cases.
“Panopto is uniquely positioned at the intersection of video, knowledge management, and education,” said Laster. “I am thrilled to join a company with such a strong foundation, an exceptional team, and a powerful mission. As video becomes increasingly critical to how organizations learn and operate, Panopto is poised to play an even greater role in enabling success for its customers.”
Panopto’s open, enterprise-grade platform is trusted by top institutions and companies—including Duke University, Kimberly-Clark, Harvard University, HubSpot, Nikon, Oxford University, Qualcomm, and Stanford University. The platform supports large-scale use of video for training, onboarding, compliance, skill-building, and knowledge sharing.
“Stephen is a proven operator who combines deep technical expertise with a sharp focus on customer impact,” said Sejal Pietrzak, Executive Chair at Panopto. “His track record of building world-class technology organizations and his passion for delivering exceptional product experiences make him the ideal leader to guide Panopto into its next phase of growth.”
Laster’s appointment reinforces Panopto’s commitment to advancing its leadership in the learning tech ecosystem, leveraging AI, advanced search capabilities, and robust integrations to define the future of visual learning in a digital-first world.
