A Lasting Legacy: CEO Dr. Biplab Sarkar Retires

Dr. Biplab Sarkar, Vectorworks’ CEO from 2016 to early 2025, has officially retired.

Dr. Sarkar has been with Vectorworks for 25 years. He joined as a 3D geometry manager back in 2000 when Vectorworks was a 35-person company in a small town in Maryland. Now, he’s retiring from a company of almost 400 people that operates worldwide.

Dr. Sarkar shaped Vectorworks as a company and a product into what they are today. His love for Vectorworks and its employees materializes in the thriving company culture he’s helped cultivate. His first step into Vectorworks software was coding the 3D Power Pack, which you can still find today under the 3D Modeling dropdown. He’s been a driving force in countless technological innovations, including the software’s transition to the Parasolid modeling kernel and integration of the best-in-class Cinema 4D rendering engine. The mark he’s left on Vectorworks is one of dignity that will carry on forever. 

Let’s celebrate Dr. Sarkar’s tremendous tenure with some memories of his time at Vectorworks.

• He graduated from Ohio State University with a Ph. D. in CAD and an M.S. in mechanical engineering.
• In his spare time, he likes to garden, cook, and listen to classic rock.
• He enjoys music in three different languages: English, Hindi, and Bengali.
• He’s married and has a daughter, who has a master’s degree from Harvard.
• His wife fundraises for St. Jude Children’s Hospital by selling Indian spices and chutneys that she makes herself.
• He went by “bips” on our internal messaging app.

Dr. Sarkar is known for his confident, steadfast leadership style and his inviting comradery outside of work. 

“Biplab is a leader of immense integrity and vision. He has always been direct — renowned for his straight-talking, no-nonsense approach — but also incredibly supportive and down-to-earth. As a colleague, he’s approachable, engaging, and easy to be around,” said Tamsin Slatter, Director of Customer Experience.

An effective leader encourages the best work from employees and guides them to maximize their potential. Dr. Sarkar’s leadership team unanimously reported that he excelled at this.

"He was a great mentor and helped me solidify my confidence in the strategic vision for the Vectorworks brand and marketing worldwide," said Jeremy Powell, chief marketing officer. 

Innovation is one of Dr. Sarkar’s passions. He pushed for out-of-the-box thinking in all aspects of working at Vectorworks. He also believes in transparency, exemplified by the Vectorworks Public Roadmap, in whose conception he played a significant role.

“Biplab believes that a leader should be ready and willing to do anything he asks of his staff. No one worked harder than Biplab. He is the type of leader who will take you someplace you would not go on your own," said Darick DeHart, chief product officer.

“Biplab is so approachable, including going by “bips” in our messaging app. He had an open-door policy. He could talk about work, the industry, football (soccer), beer, scotch, or bourbon with anyone and was always happy to provide guidance when someone had a question or idea. He was always frank and to the point with his guidance, too," said Nicole Davison, chief revenue officer. 

Dr. Sarkar is adamant about giving back to his community. He always made sure to take advantage of the VTO, the Volunteer Time Off, that Vectorworks employees receive. He regularly volunteered at the Maryland Food Bank and Meals on Wheels.

Dr. Sarkar will be missed. Many at Vectorworks have been working with him for upwards of two decades.

“I’ll definitely miss his leadership, vision, and how he always helped me think bigger and improve. His passion for Vectorworks was always inspiring. On a personal level, I’ll miss our conversations about work, music, sports, or just about the latest scotch. It’s been an incredible time and journey working with him.”

- Juan Almansa, Senior Director, Customer Success

“Quite simply, Biplab is my hero. Biplab, thank you for everything. Vectorworks has never been just a job for me — it’s a way of life. And you’ve been a huge part of that. Wishing you all the best in this next chapter!”

- Tamsin Slatter, Director of Customer Experience

“Biplab knew how to get the most out of his team by challenging us and letting us run with the planning and execution of new initiatives — having that investment in the outcome made for strong project teams and great results project after project.”

- Nicole Davison, Chief Revenue Officer

"The day Biplab was announced as CEO, he shared how he makes it a point to learn something new every day — whether it’s reading an article or mastering a new skill. That mindset inspired me, and I’ve carried it with me ever since."

- Kim Rooney, Senior Director, Employee Experience