Oracle has appointed Hilary Maxson as its new chief financial officer during a turbulent time for the company, marked by significant layoffs.
Maxson, who is 48 and previously worked at Schneider Electric, steps into the role with an annual base salary of $950,000 and potential performance bonuses that could reach $2.5 million, as noted in regulatory documents.
This change comes as Oracle grapples with mounting debt tied to substantial investments in AI infrastructure, according to reports.
Maxson holds an MBA from Cornell University and brings a wealth of experience from roles at AES Corporation, Citibank, and Bank of America.
The timing of her appointment raises eyebrows, especially since Oracle has faced backlash over mass layoffs.
Last Tuesday, employees across the United States, India, Canada, and beyond received emails about job eliminations as part of “widespread organizational changes.” Those impacted were informed they could receive severance after signing exit agreements.
This wave of layoffs coincides with Oracle’s applications for foreign workers under the H-1B visa program, which has drawn public ire. The company reportedly filed over 3,100 petitions in recent fiscal years, with many this year alone.
Workers voiced strong discontent on social media and anonymous forums, considering the hiring of foreign workers while letting many U.S. employees go to be profoundly disrespectful.
Oracle, chaired by billionaire Larry Ellison, has not disclosed how many jobs were cut.
As of May 2025, Oracle had approximately 162,000 full-time employees, according to SEC records. Experts suggest that the layoffs and new hires illustrate Oracle’s dedication to financing its growing cloud infrastructure and strengthening its AI capabilities, even amidst a nationwide decline in tech jobs.
Some industry insiders point out that while H-1B visas can help fill specialist positions, doing so while America faces painful job cuts stirs resentment among domestic employees.
One affected worker commented online, “From a financial perspective, it seems inefficient. It’s a terrible thing to hire new employees and then give them huge severance packages.”
Maxson’s appointment indicates a strategic shift for Oracle as it navigates its financial roadmap amid internal challenges and attempts to manage both global growth and domestic workforce dissatisfaction.
