We are proud to welcome Romet Saaliste as the COO.
“Smart MasterKey is growing fast, and strong leadership is critical to scale our operations and deliver on our mission. Romet brings the right mix of operational expertise, leadership, and vision that will help us accelerate execution across product, business development, and partnerships.”
— Kristjan Haav, CEO of Smart MasterKey
Romet, welcome to the team! We would like to know a little bit about you, your background, and your previous experiences.
My experience spans technology and operations in both emerging businesses and already established companies. My background spans business development, product execution, and scaling of the teams. I have led projects where process efficiency and market expansion were key, and I would like to bring this experience with me to Smart MasterKey.
What is your main focus in your new role at Smart MasterKey?
My focus is to ensure operational excellence. That means strengthening internal processes, supporting our sales and product teams, and making sure we deliver a consistent and scalable customer experience.
What are you most excited about in your new position?
I am excited to redefine physical access worldwide — building a secure, sustainable backbone that eliminates card waste, cuts costs, and seamlessly works on top of existing systems.
What makes this role different from your previous positions?
Here the impact is direct and the areas or responsibilities more diverse. Smart MasterKey is at a stage where every decision counts and shapes the future.
What kind of opportunities do you see for Smart MasterKey in the market?
Digital keys and mobile-first access control are becoming global standards. Real estate owners and operators need scalable, cost-efficient, and sustainable solutions. Smart MasterKey has the right product and timing to lead this change.
What do you see as your biggest challenge in the role?
Balancing speed with structure. We need to move fast but also make sure our operations scale smoothly as customer demand grows.
How do you see Smart MasterKey’s solutions shaping the industry and making a difference?
We are removing the inefficiencies of legacy access systems and replacing them with sustainable, mobile-first solutions. This creates both cost savings and new opportunities for property owners, tenants, and system integrators.
How will your role align with that vision?
My role is to make sure we deliver this vision consistently. From onboarding new partners to ensuring seamless operations, I will align execution with strategy.
What do you most hope to gain from this new opportunity?
I hope to grow with the company, build a strong operational team, and help establish Smart MasterKey as the gold standard in mobile access worldwide.