--- title: Disrupt or Defend? Richard Ham, CEO of FineTune, Says You Need Both description: Balancing disruption and defense is key for tech scaleups. Richard Ham, CEO of FineTune, shares insights on navigating this tension for sustained growth. image: https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:700/1*wd-owcS1l_PCQqG4eX-eHA.png --- [Skip to content](https://cariboustrategic.com/blog/disrupt-or-defend-richard-ham-ceo-of-finetune-says-you-need-both#main-content) [![Logo Google Caribou](https://cariboustrategic.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logo%20Google%20Caribou.png?width=307&height=127&name=Logo%20Google%20Caribou.png)](https://cariboustrategic.com/) - [Boring to Bestseller Blog](https://cariboustrategic.com/blog) - [Resources](https://cariboustrategic.com/resources) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Boring to Bestseller Blog](https://cariboustrategic.com/blog) - [Resources](https://cariboustrategic.com/resources) - [Book a Call](https://cariboustrategic.com/#call) [Book a Call](https://cariboustrategic.com/#call) August 18, 2025 # Disrupt or Defend? Richard Ham, CEO of FineTune, Says You Need Both ![Picture of Nitin Kartik](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/ea5ba87acbf0fc26154027b0aa5dff1f) [Nitin Kartik](https://cariboustrategic.com/blog/author/nitin-kartik) Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://cariboustrategic.com/blog/disrupt-or-defend-richard-ham-ceo-of-finetune-says-you-need-both) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://cariboustrategic.com/blog/disrupt-or-defend-richard-ham-ceo-of-finetune-says-you-need-both) [Twitter icon](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://cariboustrategic.com/blog/disrupt-or-defend-richard-ham-ceo-of-finetune-says-you-need-both) [pinterest-p icon](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://cariboustrategic.com/blog/disrupt-or-defend-richard-ham-ceo-of-finetune-says-you-need-both) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://cariboustrategic.com/blog/disrupt-or-defend-richard-ham-ceo-of-finetune-says-you-need-both) ![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:700/1*wd-owcS1l_PCQqG4eX-eHA.png) As tech CEOs, we’re often told to *either* double down on what works *or* burn the ships and chase the future. But what if that’s a false choice? In a recent episode of **Wisdom From Wizards**, I spoke with **Richard Ham, CEO at FineTune**, about a dilemma most scaleup CEOs wrestle with: **Should you disrupt your own company before someone else does — or focus on protecting the market share you’ve worked so hard to build?** # The Answer? It’s Not Either/Or. Richard doesn’t dodge the tension. Instead, he embraces it. In his words, “There must be tension between these two things within any organization.” His secret? Clear role ownership. He plays the role of *scout and disruptor* — constantly scanning the horizon, challenging assumptions, and driving innovation. Meanwhile, his team is empowered to protect and optimize what they’ve already built. It’s a division of labor that works — because it’s intentional. In fact, at FineTune’s most recent annual meeting, Richard shared that, for once, he had *no* new services or products to announce after a year of constant change. The team applauded. Sometimes, holding steady is the innovation. # Why This Matters for Scaleups Tech scaleups often grow quickly by disrupting a category — but as they mature, protecting existing momentum becomes just as important. Striking the right balance requires a CEO who can do both: *question the status quo* while *respecting the systems that fuel growth.* Richard’s approach is a reminder that leadership isn’t about always having new ideas — it’s about knowing *when* to push, and *when* to protect. **Wisdom From Wizards** is brought to you by [Caribou Strategic](https://cariboustrategic.com/), helping tech scaleups stand out and succeed. *If you’re a CEO who refuses to plateau, *[*let’s talk*](https://cariboustrategic.com/meet?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=wfwizards&utm_content=richard_ham_a)*.* [Growth](https://cariboustrategic.com/blog/tag/growth) ## Related posts [![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:700/1*HNxUEEAi9MtkHeCMWwiNlw.png)](https://cariboustrategic.com/blog/stop-relying-on-promotions-strong-positioning-creates-demand) [Positioning](https://cariboustrategic.com/blog/tag/positioning) ## [Stop Relying on Promotions — Strong Positioning Creates Demand](https://cariboustrategic.com/blog/stop-relying-on-promotions-strong-positioning-creates-demand) ![Picture of Nitin Kartik](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/ea5ba87acbf0fc26154027b0aa5dff1f) [Nitin Kartik](https://cariboustrategic.com/blog/author/nitin-kartik) March 06, 2025 Tech scaleups often focus on product development, sales, and funding — but one factor can make or... 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