Paresh Rajwat, formerly the Pacific Northwest head of office for Meta, recently stepped down from his role after 10 years with the company. Rajwat led regional operations for the past two years and considered it an honor to be a part of Meta’s success in the region. He pointed out the exceptional talent present in the Pacific Northwest that contributes to Meta’s innovations across various areas such as Reality Labs, Gen AI, and Monetization. While Meta has not announced a new leader for the region, Rajwat has moved on to angel investing, advising, and serving on the board of private companies. He expressed his enthusiasm for this new phase in his career and the opportunity to share his experience with other entrepreneurs.
Seattle biotech startup Phase Genomics appointed David Shoultz as its first chief business officer to accelerate the adoption of its technologies. The company specializes in sequencing DNA from a variety of organisms and detecting chromosomal abnormalities. Shoultz’s extensive experience in Seattle’s health industry, including roles at the Gates Foundation and nonprofit organizations, make him a valuable addition to Phase Genomics. In a similar biotech sector, Susan Wyrick has taken on multiple roles at Sana Biotechnology, including acting chief financial officer, treasurer, and principal accounting officer. Wyrick’s background in finance, including a successful IPO with Juno Therapeutics, positions her well to contribute to Sana’s ongoing drug development programs.
Laura Ruderman, CEO of Tech Alliance, has joined the boards of Ada Developers Academy and KUOW Public Radio, adding to her impressive career that includes prior roles in Washington House of Representatives and for Microsoft. Meanwhile, CTL, a Certified B Corp offering hardware and software for education and business, has seen new leadership with co-founder Erik Stromquist becoming board chairman and Jason Mendenhall taking on the role of CEO. As CTL looks towards continued growth and expansion into new markets, the changes in leadership are seen as strategic moves for the company’s future.
In the tech industry, Microsoft executive David Willis has been named chairman of the board of directors for Zensai, an AI-powered employee engagement platform with Microsoft 365 integration. Willis brings nearly 30 years of experience at Microsoft, which will help oversee Zensai’s growth as it revolutionizes human resources. Additionally, Kevin Bognar left his role as senior vice president of sales at Outreach to care for his son following a traumatic brain injury, signaling his readiness for a new career challenge. Macey McGovern has moved to Accenture as a senior strategy consultant after her successful stint at Creative Destruction Labs, raising significant funding for startup founders.
Other notable appointments include Nicola Dell, a MacArthur Foundation fellowship recipient, and Jaime Shimek, a board member of Seattle’s Tech Alliance. Teal Communications added Anthony Middleton to its advisory board as the company delves into IoT networking. Overall, these changes highlight the diverse talent flowing through the Pacific Northwest region and the various opportunities available in tech, biotech, and finance sectors. Each individual brings a unique set of skills and experiences that will contribute to the growth and innovation of their respective organizations and industries.
