Paresh Rajwat has stepped down from his role as the Pacific Northwest head of office for Meta, where he was the vice president of product management for 10 years. He has also been leading regional operations for the past two years. Rajwat expressed his pride in the region being the largest tech hub outside of Meta’s headquarters, highlighting the exceptional talent that is crucial for Meta’s success. Despite his departure, Meta has not yet announced a new leader for the Pacific Northwest region. Rajwat is now focused on angel investing, advising, and serving on the board of multiple private companies, enjoying this new phase in his career.
Seattle biotech startup Phase Genomics has hired David Shoultz as its first chief business officer to accelerate the adoption of their suite of technologies for sequencing DNA from diverse and challenging organisms. Shoultz brings with him a wealth of experience from Seattle health companies and nonprofits, including his role as co-founder and COO of Monod Bio. Meanwhile, Susan Wyrick has assumed the role of acting CFO, treasurer, and principal accounting officer at Sana Biotechnology after the former CFO stepped down. Sana Biotechnology, a publicly traded company, is focused on developing drugs for cancer, autoimmune diseases, and type 1 diabetes.
Laura Ruderman, CEO of Tech Alliance, has joined the boards of directors at Ada Developers Academy and KUOW Public Radio. With an extensive background in politics, consultancy, and working in tech, Ruderman brings valuable expertise to these organizations. In Beaverton, CTL, a Certified B Corp providing education and business tools, is transitioning to new leadership with co-founder Erik Stromquist moving to chairman of the board. Jason Mendenhall, who previously served as the chief product officer of Mind Education, has taken over as CTL’s CEO as the company looks towards continued growth and innovation.
Meg O’Conor Bannecker has joined Microsoft as the senior communications manager, focusing on Washington state media and collaborating with the Corporate Engagement and Legal Affairs team. With experience in public relations and internal communications at NanoString Technologies, her role at Microsoft will involve strategic communication efforts. David Willis, a longtime Microsoft executive, has become chairman of the board of directors for Zensai, an AI-powered employee engagement platform. With Zensai aiming to revolutionize HR, Willis’ extensive experience will help guide the company’s growth and development.
Kevin Bognar has left his role as global senior vice president of sales at Outreach to care for his son after he suffered traumatic brain injuries. Bognar, a former director at Microsoft, is now looking for a new role after his son’s encouraging progress in rehabilitation. Macey McGovern has taken on the role of senior strategy consultant at Accenture in Seattle after leading Creative Destruction Labs (CDL) in the city for over 3 years. CDL has helped seed-stage and pre-Series A founders in raising funds and creating equity value. Nicola Dell, a PhD holder from the University of Washington, has been awarded a MacArthur Foundation fellowship for her work in computer science and engineering, offering her the flexibility to pursue her interests.
Jaime Shimek, executive director of communications at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, is joining the board of directors for Seattle’s Tech Alliance, bringing her experience from the Department of Energy and her time as a senior policy advisor for U.S. Sen. Patty Murray. In Toronto, Anthony Middleton has joined the advisory board of Teal Communications, a Seattle IoT networking company, bringing over 25 years of experience in defense, telecommunications, and wireless industries. These professionals continue to make valuable contributions to their respective fields through their expertise and leadership roles.
