Shopify has appointed Mikhail Parakhin, a former top engineering leader at Microsoft, as its new chief technology officer. Parakhin is recognized as one of the best machine learning experts globally, having spent the past five years at Microsoft leading artificial intelligence efforts across various teams. Prior to Microsoft, Parakhin had worked at Yandex as the CTO, showcasing his expertise in the tech industry.
Parakhin left Microsoft earlier this year after the company hired AI pioneer Mustafa Suleyman and colleagues from Inflection AI. Microsoft has been focusing on enhancing its AI capabilities, with CTO Kevin Scott joining the Shopify board last month. Shopify is also investing in its own AI tools and leveraging this technology to improve its internal processes and efficiency. Parakhin’s experience and expertise in AI will be instrumental in driving Shopify’s technological advancements and growth.
Matt Hulett, a well-known figure in the Seattle tech and startup scene, has been appointed as the new CEO of online education company StraighterLine. Hulett has a strong background in education technology, having previously served as the president of language learning giant Rosetta Stone. He also has experience in leading various tech companies in Seattle, such as TINYpulse, ClickBank, RealNetworks, Expedia, and AdXpose.
StraighterLine, based in Washington D.C., offers postsecondary education courses online and has received significant investment from private equity firm BV Investment Partners in 2020. More than 350,000 students have taken classes with StraighterLine and transferred credit to over 3,000 accredited U.S. colleges and universities. Hulett’s leadership and experience in both education technology and the tech industry will be valuable assets to propel StraighterLine’s growth and impact in the online education space.
Parakhin and Hulett’s appointments reflect the growing trend of tech industry leaders transitioning to roles in other sectors such as e-commerce and education technology. This movement of top talent across different industries allows for the exchange of innovative ideas and expertise, driving growth and advancement in various sectors. Both Parakhin and Hulett bring unique skills and experiences to their new roles, positioning Shopify and StraighterLine for success in their respective industries.
Overall, the appointments of Parakhin and Hulett underscore the importance of leadership in driving innovation and growth in tech companies and other sectors. Their backgrounds in technology, artificial intelligence, and education technology will play a key role in shaping the future strategies and initiatives of Shopify and StraighterLine. As these companies continue to expand and evolve in their respective markets, the expertise and leadership of Parakhin and Hulett will be instrumental in driving their success and competitive edge in the rapidly changing tech landscape.
