Help Scout, a leader in providing customer support software and tools for 8,000+ teams in 140 countries, today announced that Asha Sharma, current COO and Director at Porch.com, has been elected to Help Scout’s Board of Directors. Sharma brings varied expertise in product marketing, product development, operations, and growth strategy.

At Porch, Sharma is responsible for finance, operations, homeowner product development, demand, support, and strategic partnerships. She joined Porch pre-launch and helped build the company from the ground up, which includes raising $100M plus in funding and launching new revenue streams such as the company’s partnership with Lowes. Prior to Porch, Sharma worked at Microsoft in B2C and B2B operations. She managed a mobile cloud product for North America and launched Windows 8 for enterprise, retailers, field sales, and managed partners.

“I couldn’t be prouder to be part of Help Scout’s mission of assisting customers build companies people love,” Sharma explains. “Through building a few of my own companies, I’ve had the privilege of meeting some remarkable individuals; but few compare to the company’s CEO, Nick Francis. His purpose, and what each of his employees have built from that purpose, is truly special and I feel lucky to help in any capacity I can.”

Sharma will serve as the only independent member of the Help Scout board, with a fiduciary duty solely to the company. She also is on the board of the Virginia Mason Medical Center.

“Adding someone to our board is not a decision we take lightly. It took several years of searching, but Asha is a tremendous addition. Her expertise in product marketing and operations will help drive our growth over the next year,” said Nick Francis, CEO of Help Scout. “She has invested a lot of time into understanding the business, and has a deep appreciation for the culture and values we stand for.”

Sharma was recently recognized on Forbes 30 under 30 in Marketing and Advertising List, and Puget Sound Business Journal's 40 under 40.