Driving Momentum in an AI-First World: A Conversation with our MetricStream CEO Marc Levine

Introduction

We recently had the privilege of engaging in a wide-ranging conversation with Marc Levine, Chief Executive Officer of MetricStream.

Marc stepped into the role in April 2025, bringing with him more than two decades of leadership experience in enterprise SaaS, data, and analytics. He spent over 10 years at Moody’s Analytics, where he led the Structured Finance division, and has a proven track record of driving revenue acceleration and operational excellence across both public and private companies.

As we navigate the rapidly evolving GRC landscape in 2025, marked by interconnected risks, heightened regulations, and the fast-growing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), we sought Marc’s insights on the critical factors that will shape the future of both GRC and MetricStream. He shared thought-provoking perspectives on:

• Unlocking Future Opportunities through AI-driven automation and simplified solutions designed for the expanding GRC market.
• The Crucial Role of Culture in fostering clarity, accountability, belief, and empowerment across the organization.
• Building Sustainable Momentum by driving consistency in execution across products, customer success, and operations.

Our conversation also went beyond his professional acumen, offering a glimpse into Marc’s diverse background, personal values, and interests outside the workplace.

What follows is an edited transcript of this insightful exchange. Join us as we get to know Marc better!

Q: Marc, tell us a little bit about yourself and the path that brought you here.

I grew up in the Boston area and now live there with my wife, two kids, and three cats.

My career started at a company called Lewtan Technologies, which was later acquired by Moody’s. Over time, I moved from inside sales into management and eventually led the structured finance group at Moody’s. I spent 10 years there, and I loved it.

What drew me to MetricStream was the opportunity to grow and take advantage of the fast-paced GRC space. The company already had a strong brand in a growing space, and I felt I could bring my experience to help drive the next generation of growth. It wasn’t an easy decision to leave a place I loved, but from the moment I joined MetricStream, I felt welcomed and part of the team.

Q: Where do you see the biggest opportunities for the GRC industry, and for MetricStream in particular?

The GRC space is only becoming more important. New regulations, the rise of AI, emerging cyber threats: all of these create fresh risks for companies. Just when you think one risk is managed, another appears. That constant change means more organizations will need the solutions offered by MetricStream.

At MetricStream, we’re not just building software: we’re shaping the future of governance, risk, and compliance in this new changing world.

Looking ahead, I see three big opportunities for MetricStream.

• First, continue to build a great user experience and simplify GRC. We’ve built a powerful platform, and by making it even more intuitive and seamless, we’ll unlock greater value for our customers.
• Second, expand our AI capabilities, embedding intelligence and automation to simplify decisions and eliminate repetitive tasks.
• And third, bring the power of connected GRC to more users and use cases.

With more than a million users across 35+ countries, we’re focused on making GRC intuitive, intelligent, and deeply integrated into how organizations work. With our customers, partners, and teams, we are simplifying complexity, amplifying outcomes, and building a more resilient future. It is incredibly exciting and I am privileged to be a part of it!

Q: How do you see the role of AI in GRC?

I’m pragmatic about AI. It’s amazing at doing repetitive things and surfacing patterns. The real winners will be GRC professionals who leverage automated agents that can really help them do their jobs more efficiently in various areas: flagging anomalies, summarizing evidence, drafting recommendations for them to review and act upon, and in general, freeing them up to do more value-added work. That human-in-the-loop will continue to be important as it will keep the quality high while freeing people up for critical decision work.

Q: You emphasize culture a lot. What are the cultural values you focus on, and why?

I see culture as the operating system of a company. For some, it may be just a slogan, but for me, it’s far more than that. Culture shapes how we act, how we think, how we behave, and ultimately how we make decisions. For me, four things stand out:

• Clarity. Everyone should know why they’re doing what they’re doing and how it connects to company goals.
• Accountability. If you say you’ll do something, follow through. I have patience for mistakes, but not for lack of ownership and follow through on commitments.
• Belief. We need to have confidence in who we are and the value we deliver. Our brand and expertise give us the right to believe in ourselves.
• Empowerment. I prefer flatter structures where people closest to the work make decisions. That speeds us up and makes us stronger.

I’ll share a recent story that inspired me: a colleague kept asking, “Why do we do it this way?” instead of accepting the status quo. Her questions led to a tweak in a reporting step that saved time across the team. That kind of curiosity — someone feeling empowered to call things out and suggest change — is exactly the culture we want and I’m committed to building.

Q: How would you describe your leadership style?

I like to get into the details: not to micromanage, but to understand. I believe in and expect accountability and effort: I’ll support honest mistakes, but I won’t tolerate lack of effort.

I place a lot of value on connecting with people personally as well as professionally. I set the vision, empower teams to execute, and when I join discussions, I make it clear I’m there as a participant, offering input, not dictating.

Q: If you could give every MetricStreamer one challenge for the year ahead, what would it be? And what would be the challenge to yourself?

My challenge comes back to the story I mentioned earlier. I’d like to challenge everyone to look at what they’re doing and ask: “Does this move the needle on our priorities?” If not, question it. And if it is important, think about how AI can make it more efficient.

As for myself, my challenge is to deepen my expertise in GRC. I’ve always believed in knowing the details. Back in my sales days in structured finance, I never wanted to let anyone do demos for me. It was important for me to know the product inside out. I still feel the same way. I want to become a true subject matter expert in this space.

Q: And finally, who is Marc outside of work? What’s your favorite movie and what are you currently reading?

I’m a family person and a bit of a homebody. I love spending time with my wife, kids, and our cats; and my larger family. I’m also big on friendships. I make it a point to stay connected with my friends, old and new. Beyond that, I’m passionate about fitness. I love playing and following sports and am a huge fan of the New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox.

On Fridays, you’ll often find me at a live music show or relaxing in a little backyard room I built, cranking up music and unwinding with a cocktail. I’m also a bit of a neat and clean freak. I’ve even washed the floor of my garage!

As for my favorite movie, I’m a huge fan of the Rocky movies, especially the first one. I just love the underdog story and the hard work and perseverance. I’m currently reading The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. It’s taught me to step outside myself, observe how my mind works, and re-ground in the present moment, which is the only thing we can truly control.

Thanks, Marc, for spending time with us, and a warm welcome to the MetricStream team!