Epicor Names Vaibhav Vohra CEO as Architect of Cognitive ERP Takes the Helm

Epicor has appointed Vaibhav Vohra as its new Chief Executive Officer, marking the next stage of a planned leadership transition and placing the architect of the company’s Cognitive ERP strategy at the centre of its next chapter.

Vohra will take over as CEO on 1 October 2026, succeeding Steve Murphy, who will step down at the end of Epicor’s financial year on 30 September 2026. Murphy will remain on Epicor’s Board of Directors.

The leadership change follows a succession process that has been developing for almost two years. Vohra became President of Epicor in October 2024, alongside a series of leadership appointments aimed at accelerating the company’s cloud, AI and Cognitive ERP strategy.

From Product Leader to CEO

Vohra joined Epicor in 2021 as Chief Product Officer and has since taken on a broader range of responsibilities. Most recently, he served as President and Chief Product and Technology Officer, overseeing product strategy, development, management and design.

During his time at Epicor, Vohra has played a central role in shaping the company’s approach to cloud ERP, artificial intelligence and data-driven enterprise software.

Before joining Epicor, he held product leadership positions at Gecko Robotics and spent several years in senior product roles at SAP, where he was involved in the German software company’s transition towards SaaS.

His product and technology background is particularly significant because of his role in developing Epicor’s Cognitive ERP vision.

The Architect Behind Epicor’s Cognitive ERP Strategy

Vohra has positioned Cognitive ERP as a progression from traditional cloud ERP towards systems that can combine enterprise data, AI, automation and human decision-making.

The vision is built around three concepts: Handshakes, which focus on how people and machines interact; Gears, which introduce low-code automation into operational environments; and Sparks, which deliver industry-specific insights.

The wider objective is to give employees more powerful tools for working with complex operational information.

Vohra has previously described this approach as a way of giving essential workers greater access to skills and insights, effectively enabling them to make better decisions with the support of AI.

Epicor has already begun putting this strategy into practice through products such as Epicor Prism, its generative AI platform. The technology is being used by organisations across different industries to analyse operational data, monitor components and support decisions such as make-or-buy planning.

For Epicor, the underlying ERP data remains critical to this strategy. AI can only deliver useful results when it has access to accurate, contextual business information.

Vohra’s Priorities as CEO

Taking over as CEO gives Vohra responsibility for moving Cognitive ERP from a product strategy into a broader business proposition.

His appointment suggests that Epicor intends to maintain its focus on AI-enabled ERP rather than significantly changing direction.

For customers, that could mean continued investment in intelligent agents, workflow automation, industry-specific AI and tools designed to bring decision support directly into ERP processes.

It also places greater importance on the quality and accessibility of enterprise data. As ERP systems increasingly become the foundation for AI-driven decisions, organisations will need reliable data structures, strong governance and well-defined processes to realise the promised benefits.

“Over the past five years, I’ve seen firsthand the people, customers, and partners that make this company special,” Vohra said following the announcement, adding that he was honoured to lead Epicor into what he described as a new era of transformation in enterprise software.

Steve Murphy’s Legacy at Epicor

Vohra takes over following a significant period of growth under Steve Murphy.

During Murphy’s tenure, Epicor strengthened its position in industry-focused SaaS ERP, accelerated its cloud-first strategy and expanded its capabilities through product innovation and acquisitions.

The company also surpassed $1 billion in annual recurring revenue, underlining the scale of the business Murphy leaves behind.

Murphy said the company was performing well and had a clear strategy in place, making the leadership transition a natural next step. He also highlighted Vohra’s contribution to Epicor’s product and technology direction as a key reason for his confidence in the succession.

Epicor Board Chair Jeff Hawn similarly described Vohra as an experienced enterprise software leader capable of guiding the company through its next phase.

What the Leadership Change Means for ERP Customers

For Epicor customers and partners, Vohra’s appointment is more likely to represent continuity than a change in direction.

Rather than moving away from its existing strategy, Epicor appears set to continue investing in the combination of ERP, AI, automation and industry-specific intelligence.

That could have several implications for customers.

AI is likely to become more deeply embedded in ERP workflows. Epicor’s strategy is moving beyond AI as a standalone assistant towards intelligent capabilities that operate alongside everyday ERP processes.

Data quality will become increasingly important. As AI takes on a larger role in forecasting, analysis and decision-making, organisations will need to ensure that the underlying ERP data is accurate, connected and governed effectively.

Automation could change how ERP teams work. Low-code tools and AI-assisted development may reduce some manual tasks while increasing the importance of governance, testing, process design and oversight.

Industry-specific capabilities remain central. Epicor has positioned its AI strategy around the needs of the make, move and sell sectors rather than pursuing a generic AI approach.

A New Chapter for Epicor

Vohra’s promotion to CEO completes a leadership transition that has been building since his appointment as President in 2024.

It also sends a clear message about where Epicor sees the future of enterprise software.

The company is betting that the next generation of ERP will not simply record transactions or provide reports. Instead, ERP platforms will increasingly interpret business data, automate routine processes, support employees and help organisations make decisions in real time.

With the executive who helped architect Epicor’s Cognitive ERP strategy now leading the company, its AI roadmap is likely to remain at the heart of the business.

For Epicor’s customers and partners, the key question will be how quickly that vision translates into measurable improvements across everyday ERP operations.