Tech Moves: Leadership Changes at Seattle Chamber, F5, Meta and More

Several technology, business, and civic organizations have announced notable leadership changes, with executives taking on new roles or stepping down across the Seattle region and beyond.

Here’s a roundup of the latest executive moves.

Rachel Smith to Lead Washington Roundtable

Rachel Smith, president and CEO of the Seattle Metro Chamber, is leaving the business advocacy organization to become the new president of the Washington Roundtable.

Smith has led the Seattle Metro Chamber since 2021, overseeing the organization during the post-pandemic economic recovery. During her tenure, she supported initiatives benefiting BIPOC-owned businesses and worked on major regional issues, including the expansion of Sound Transit.

Before joining the chamber, Smith held several leadership positions in both King County and City of Seattle government offices.

Although she is changing organizations, Smith will continue collaborating with the Seattle Metro Chamber through her new role at Washington Roundtable, a nonprofit organization made up of senior executives from many of Washington state’s largest companies that focuses on public policy.

In the meantime, the chamber’s Chief Impact Officer Gabriella Buono will serve as interim president and CEO while the board searches for a permanent successor.

Bungie CEO Pete Parsons Steps Down

Gaming industry veteran Pete Parsons announced he is stepping down as CEO of Bungie, the studio behind the popular Destiny franchise.

Parsons had led Bungie for the past decade. Additional details regarding the leadership transition have not yet been announced.

F5 Marketing Leader Michael Atalla Departs

Michael Atalla has resigned from his position as Senior Vice President and Head of Worldwide Marketing at Seattle-based cybersecurity and application delivery company F5 after nearly four years.

Reflecting on his time with the company, Atalla thanked his colleagues, describing them as some of the smartest and most curious people he has worked with.

Prior to joining F5, Atalla spent nearly 14 years at Microsoft, finishing his tenure in 2016 as a director within the Office 365 organization.

He also co-founded The MJJM Group, a consulting firm that advises companies on product growth strategies and fundraising efforts.

Atalla has not yet revealed his next professional move.

Meta AI Engineer Begins a New Chapter

After more than 13 years at Meta, Hitesh Jain has announced his departure from the company.

Most recently, Jain served as a Principal Engineer focused on generative AI, working on technologies designed to make AI chatbots more personalized, engaging, and useful.

In a LinkedIn post announcing his exit, Jain reflected on joining Meta immediately after graduating from the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, describing his move from India to the United States as one of the best decisions of his life.

Throughout his career at Meta, he worked from offices in Seattle, Menlo Park, and Dublin.

Although he did not disclose his next destination, Jain said a new chapter in his career is about to begin.

Adriana Gil Miner Leaves Iterable

Adriana Gil Miner has stepped down as Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer at Iterable, where she served for more than three years.

Miner said she appreciated the opportunity to work closely with marketing professionals while helping grow the company’s business.

Before joining Iterable, she held executive marketing positions at several Seattle-area technology companies, including Tableau Software, Qumulo, and Artefact.

Her next role has not yet been announced.

Prakash Panjwani Joins Starfire Sports Board

Former WatchGuard Technologies CEO Prakash Panjwani has joined the board of directors at Starfire Sports.

The organization provides free after-school programs for underserved youth in South Seattle, including coding classes, drone camps, and sports activities.

Panjwani said he believes exposing young people to both STEM education and athletics can help prepare them for future success and create lasting positive impacts within their communities.

Seeq Adds Manufacturing Executive to Board

Seattle industrial analytics company Seeq has appointed Anton Chilton to its board of directors.

Chilton previously spent more than two decades at manufacturing software company QAD, where he eventually became CEO.

At Seeq, he will help guide the company’s strategy as it continues developing AI-powered industrial analytics and monitoring solutions that help manufacturers optimize operations.

Chilton succeeds former board member Ashley Kramer.

As leadership changes continue across Seattle’s technology and business sectors, these appointments highlight the ongoing movement of experienced executives between startups, enterprise software companies, nonprofit organizations, and civic institutions.

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