Leaders of CGM: Claudiu Guriță - The Soul. The Structure. The New Interim VP

How a kid from Vorona with a passion for learning became interim VP of Software Development at CGM. 

Claudiu is one of the smartest people you’ll ever talk to — with a sense of humor to match and a level of professionalism that’s hard to top. His professional journey is one you'll want to read and let yourself be inspired by, so here it is. 

Claudiu Guriță didn’t exactly start out with a roadmap for tech leadership. In fact, he went to high school in Natural Resources and Environmental Protection in the tiny commune of Vorona, Botoșani — not because he was passionate about environmental protection, but because it was the only option nearby. Still, fate has a funny way of planting seeds. 

It wasn’t nature that fascinated Claudiu, but code. He was drawn into the world of programming through his curiosity and the tutorials of a charismatic YouTuber called The New Boston. That channel didn’t just teach Java game development — it taught Claudiu how to learn, how to enjoy learning, and how to structure knowledge.

With a growing interest in engineering and mechanics, Claudiu moved to Iași for university and enrolled in the Faculty of Machine Construction. He became the straight-A student type — structured, focused, and deeply motivated. During his studies, he was a working student in a multinational to put theory into practice. 

And still, he never gave up programming. 

His first project? Building a 2D game platform reminiscent of Mario. He still remembers how incredible it felt to bring those pixels to life. 

It was a friend, Răzvan Savel — now a CGM consultant — who kept talking about how cool it was to work at CGM. Encouraged by Răzvan’s enthusiasm, Claudiu decided to see what CGM was all about and applied for a QA testing role. He studied hard, prepared like the tech nerd he proudly is, and nailed the interview. 

"I was a real bookworm, so I prepared thoroughly for the interview. Răzvan helped me a lot and supported me every step of the way. What I liked from the very first moment was how human and natural the interview felt, how friendly the people were, and how good the vibe was. I remember thinking to myself: I want to stay here," Claudiu says. 

He was hired the same day. And not just that — he was invited to his first QA community teambuilding that same weekend. 

On March 13, 2018, Claudiu officially became a CGMer and teammate to his friend, Răzvan. 

His first project was License Management, where he started as the only Manual QA. But Claudiu doesn’t do "just" anything. He quickly expanded his skillset to include QA Performance, FrontEnd, and ultimately, BackEnd — his old flame. 

In 2020, two years later, he was offered the chance to switch fully to BackEnd development and become Team Lead of the License Management team, coordinating the five Romanian colleagues. 

"I accepted my VP's proposal to become TL immediately and truly appreciated the trust and support I received every step of the way. My first thought was that I could officially do what I was already doing. The transition felt natural and comfortable, especially since I knew both the people and the project so well. How could I not help the team when they needed me?”  

After four years, Claudiu switched projects and became TL for the ambitious MDA initiative in 2024. MDA supports doctors by recording consultations and transforming them into structured summaries — an AI-powered, cloud-based project with startup energy and plenty of tech challenges. 

Building the team went smoothly. Claudiu speaks highly of each member: 

• Georgiana Andrieș: the proactive FE with unmatched positivity. 
• Ioana Țăpuș: the super-organized, professional PO and team motivator. 
• Carmen Ioniță: the BE who never stops learning. 
• Cătălin Damian: the QA with flawless documentation. 
• Nina Smoleanu: the scenario queen and release anchor. 
• Ștefan Camarașu: the FE veteran of many frameworks. 
• Georgiana Ciubotariu: the voice of clarity in every discussion. 
• Denis Crusos: the AI guru and complex problem-solver-in-chief. 
• Alexandru Dieaconu: the automation ace, the challenge crusher. 

"The biggest challenge as a TL is to find the right balance between helping people when they want it and when they need it. Then there’s also the technical person’s tendency to just jump in and fix things, and of course, the constant switching between tech and leadership." 

While Claudiu loves the technical side, it’s leadership that energizes him most today. Helping others grow brings him deeper satisfaction than solving technical puzzles. 

When Loredana Armanu went on maternity leave, Claudiu became the first and the natural choice for interim VP. Discussions with CGM Software Romania GM Christopher Roy Turner followed, full of deep questions about leadership vision and company impact. Claudiu didn’t know it then, but these conversations were preparing him for the role. 

He took over CLICKDOC, one of the largest projects at CGM, and found what he expected: solid teams, high development standards, and strong leadership foundations laid by Loredana. 

"I want to make sure people still have a great vibe and that we have a good direction for ourselves. I want to help them find opportunities to use AI tools and also develop their own skills." 

He is most proud of one thing: seeing his former teammate Georgiana Andrieș step into his TL role in MDA. "She’s ready, and I can’t wait for everyone to read her story soon." Coming soon, stay close. 

At work, Claudiu switches seamlessly between meetings, leadership, and code. At home, he cherishes time with his wife and daughter. He still dreams about his old passions - playing the piano, biking in the forests, and, most of all, cars. Big cars, small cars, strange cars — each with a story. He loves them all and he is definitely one of the biggest cars fans you will ever meet.  

"My dream car? All of them. Every car has at least one interesting story to explore." 

In seven years at CGM, Claudiu has learned a lifetime’s worth of lessons: 

• "I learned when and how to delegate — something so simple, yet so important. Especially for someone like me with a technical background, I always tended to do everything myself." 
• "I learned to stand up for myself and for my team, without over-nurturing — meaning without constantly sugarcoating things." 
• "I learned how to actively listen, a vital skill for anyone in a TL role." 
• „I also learned how important it is to always look for a mentor — someone to learn from — but also a mentee — someone to guide and invest in. Growth works best in both directions.” 

And he continues to grow — asking for feedback, planning, doing follow-ups, listening to podcasts, learning from specialists online, and reflecting through meditation. 

"People ask me how I’ve stayed in the same company for over 7 years. The answer is simple: I’ve had so many growth opportunities at CGM. I’ve had a flexible career path, people really listened to what I wanted, and I was given ownership, trust, and freedom to build a team and define processes. More than that, people at CGM have a special vibe — they’re simply great. That’s why I made so many friends here, friends I hang out with even outside of work. And there’s another reason I care deeply about: the healthcare field — not only because my wife is a cardiologist, but because I feel I’m doing something with real impact.” 

Inspired by Claudiu’s story? You could be part of the next chapter. The CLICKDOC team is hiring a Senior Python Developer. See all the details here. With Claudiu as interim VP and a team that truly delivers, this might be your most meaningful tech journey yet. 

CLICKDOC is an innovative healthcare project that improves documentation and communication through digital tools, helping healthcare professionals focus on what matters most: the patients. 

But beyond the job description and technologies, this is a story about growth — steady, structured, and deeply human. Claudiu’s path wasn’t paved with shortcuts or dramatic leaps. It was built, piece by piece, through curiosity, consistency, and care. 

He learned how to lead by learning how to listen. He found satisfaction not just in solving problems, but in helping others thrive. And he never stopped dreaming — whether it was about his next technical challenge, or the next car with a story to discover. 

Leadership, like code, is about clarity, structure, and the joy of solving problems together. 

So, if you’re looking not just for a role, but for a place where learning is celebrated, leadership is cultivated, and people genuinely enjoy the ride — this might just be your sign. 

Because at CGM, we don’t just build software. We build leaders who build people. 

And Claudiu? He’s just getting started — and he’s bringing others along for the ride. Are you one of them?