Shopify, the Toronto-based e-commerce giant, has hired Mikhail Parakhin as its new chief technology officer. Parakhin, who was previously a top engineering leader at Microsoft, was praised by Shopify as one of the finest machine learning crafters on the planet. During his time at Microsoft, Parakhin led artificial intelligence efforts and teams working on projects such as Bing, Edge browsers, advertising, and web services. He first worked at Microsoft from 2007 to 2014, then spent five years at Russian tech giant Yandex as CTO before returning to Microsoft. Parakhin left Microsoft earlier this year following the hiring of AI pioneer Mustafa Suleyman and colleagues from Inflection AI. As Shopify continues to roll out its own AI tools and improve internal efficiency with AI, Parakhin’s expertise will be a valuable addition to the company.
Another tech industry veteran, Matt Hulett, has taken on a new role as the CEO of online education company StraighterLine. Hulett, known for his work with companies such as Rosetta Stone and PetMed Express, is no stranger to the education technology sector. His experience in leadership positions at various Seattle tech companies, including TINYpulse, ClickBank, RealNetworks, Expedia, and AdXpose, makes him a valuable asset to StraighterLine as it continues to offer postsecondary education courses online. Founded in 2008 and based in Washington D.C., StraighterLine has raised significant investment from private equity firm BV Investment Partners. With over 350,000 students having taken classes with StraighterLine and transferred credit to more than 3,000 accredited U.S. colleges and universities, Hulett’s leadership will be key in driving the company’s growth and success.
Shopify’s appointment of Mikhail Parakhin comes at a time when the company is focused on leveraging AI tools for internal efficiency and product improvements. Parakhin’s background in leading AI efforts at Microsoft and Yandex will be instrumental in helping Shopify achieve its goals in this area. Additionally, Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott joining the Shopify board last month further strengthens the relationship between the two companies and underscores the importance of AI in the tech industry. With Parakhin on board, Shopify is poised to further advance its AI capabilities and remain at the forefront of e-commerce technology.
Matt Hulett’s transition to CEO of StraighterLine reflects his ongoing commitment to the education technology space and his ability to drive growth and innovation in the industry. His previous experience at Rosetta Stone and PetMed Express, as well as leadership positions at various Seattle tech companies, have equipped him with the skills necessary to lead StraighterLine successfully. As the company continues to offer online postsecondary education courses and expand its reach to more students and institutions, Hulett’s strategic vision and industry expertise will be critical in shaping its future. With its significant investment from BV Investment Partners in 2020, StraighterLine is well-positioned for growth under Hulett’s leadership.
The industry veterans appointed to leadership roles at Shopify and StraighterLine reflect the ongoing evolution and growth of the tech and education sectors. Shopify’s emphasis on AI tools and efficiency improvement, coupled with StraighterLine’s expansion of online education offerings and investment support, underscore the importance of leadership in driving innovation and success in these industries. Both Parakhin and Hulett bring a wealth of experience and expertise to their new roles, positioning their respective companies for continued growth and advancement. As technology continues to play a vital role in shaping the future of e-commerce and education, the leadership of individuals such as Parakhin and Hulett will be instrumental in driving progress and innovation in the industry.
