Code.org has a new leader; Synapse vet joins Amazon; Tableau’s CEO resides at Code Metal – GeekWire
– Karim Meghji assumes the position of president and CEO at Code.orga non-profit computer science education organization based in Seattle.
Meghji, formerly CTO at Seattle-based digital remittance company Remitly, joined Code.org in 2022 to serve as chief product officer, leading the organization’s shift to an AI-focused strategy.
Cameron Wilsonlongtime president at Code.org, is transitioning to a senior advisor position at the organization where he has worked for more than 12 years.
“It’s impossible to overstate Cameron’s impact on Code.org and the education system,” Code.org founder Hadi Partovi said in a news release Friday. “He helped build an institution that will continue to serve students for generations to come, and I am very grateful for his leadership and cooperation.”
Code.org was launched in 2013 by brothers Hadi and Ali Partovi with the goal of expanding computer education for K-12 students. Backed by nearly $60 million in funding from the likes of Microsoft, Amazon, Google and others, Code.org counts 102 million students and 3 million teachers on its site today, with 232 million student-created projects worldwide.
Code.org says its AI curriculum has helped more than 6 million students learn basic concepts about technology. More than 25 million students have completed activities in their “Hour of AI” campaign.
The company employed 107 people following layoffs in January.
Partovi, who has served as chairman of the board for the past two years, will continue in that role.
– Jeff Hebert you are the new hardware manager Amazon leading a team working on last mile delivery strategies.
“Intelligent sensors, human digital communication, and robots using the latest AI capabilities, edge processing, and connectivity have tremendous potential to increase safety and efficiency at the heart of Amazon’s business,” he said in a post on LinkedIn.
Hebert spent 15 years at Seattle-based product development company Synapse and left as president last August. Most recently he was with the consulting firm Capgemini Invent.
– Former CEO of Tableau Ryan Aytay is the new president and chief operating officer of Code Metalis a Boston-based company that builds AI tools that automatically interpret and optimize code for various hardware systems.
Aytay announced earlier this month that he was leaving Salesforce after 19 years. He has been serving since 2023 as CEO of Tableau, a Seattle-based data visualization company that was acquired by Salesforce in 2019.
“I’m incredibly excited about this next chapter,” Aytay wrote on LinkedIn. “The combination of world-class technology, real customer demand, and team building with urgency and integrity is rare – and I feel lucky to be a part of it!”
Code Metal recently closed a $125 million Series B funding round valued at approximately $1.25 billion.
– Douglas Dawsona long-time communications leader at Microsofthe now leads comms for Microsoft’s cloud and AI strategy team. He previously led Microsoft’s global communications team, and has been with the company for nearly 12 years.
– Harshit Shah is the new chief technology officer at LiveView Technologiesa company that develops cloud-connected video surveillance, security, and remote monitoring solutions. Shah was previously CTO at Kyruus Health. He spent four years as an engineering lead at Amazon Web Services and another 10 at Microsoft as a software and program manager.
– Diana Leo is the new vice president of government affairs Bellevue Chamber of Commerce.
Leo has an extensive background in politics, policy, and public service. He previously led the multi-state iCivics, promoting K-12 public education policies that do not involve legislative engagement. He served as the grassroots director and outreach director for Utah Sen. Mike Lee also held senior leadership positions in the first Trump administration.
– Andrew Peterson has joined the board of directors of an Austin, Texas-based cybersecurity company DryRun Security.
Peterson is a Seattle native and entrepreneur-turned-investor who returned to the city to lead Aviso Ventures, a fund launched in 2023 to back startups and infrastructure software. He previously founded Signal Sciences, a cybersecurity company acquired by Fastly in 2020.
– Vincent Valentino is the new energy economy lead at the Washington State Department of Commerce following more than three years leading green economy initiatives at the City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development.
Valentino, who is also the vice chairman of the board of the Washington State Green Bank, said in a LinkedIn post that he looks forward to “continuing to work to make Washington a national leader in all things clean energy and climate technology!”
