Who is Kaz Nejatian: The lawyer-turned-CEO who fired 250 employees after major AI push at US real estate tech firm Opendoor
The decision by US real-estate technology company Opendoor to shut its India operations and lay off around 250 employees has drawn attention to a relatively new face at the top of the company. The move, announced as part of a broader shift towards artificial intelligence and US-based customer-facing teams, came less than a year after Kaz Nejatian took over as chief executive.
While the layoffs have sparked discussion about AI's growing impact on white-collar and operational jobs, they have also put a spotlight on the executive directing Opendoor's next chapter. Nejatian's career spans law, government policy, entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley product management, and senior leadership at some of North America's largest technology companies.
Opendoor CEO Kaz Nejatian's journey from law to technology leadership at Opendoor
Nejatian's route to the corner office differs from that of many technology leaders. After studying business at Queen's University, he earned a law degree from the University of Toronto and initially worked as a lawyer. His professional direction changed when he moved into entrepreneurship and technology, eventually building a career focused on digital products and operations.
Before entering the private technology sector full-time, he also worked for Canada's federal government, where he served in a strategic planning role at Citizenship and Immigration Canada. During that period, he contributed to initiatives including Canada's Startup Visa programme, designed to attract entrepreneurs and investment to the country.
The startup that launched Kaz Nejatian's tech career
Long before joining major technology companies, Nejatian founded Kash, a payment technology startup that focused on alternative payment systems and transaction risk assessment. The company grew from a small operation into a business serving more than 100 clients. Kash was eventually acquired in 2017, marking a significant milestone in Nejatian's entrepreneurial career.
The experience gave him hands-on exposure to building products, raising a business from the ground up and managing rapid growth; skills that would later become valuable in larger corporate leadership roles.
Leadership roles at Facebook and Shopify
Following Kash, Nejatian joined Meta, then known as Facebook, where he worked as a lead product manager. His responsibilities included overseeing payment and billing products across platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Marketplace. The role placed him at the centre of one of the world's largest digital payment ecosystems.
He later moved to Shopify, where his influence expanded significantly over six years. Starting with the leadership of Shopify's financial services division, he went on to become vice-president of merchant services before eventually serving as chief operating officer and vice-president of product. During his time there, Shopify experienced substantial growth and strengthened its position as one of the world's leading e-commerce platforms.
Kaz Nejatian's vision for Opendoor's next chapter
Nejatian became chief executive of Opendoor in September 2025. The company, founded in 2014, is known for allowing homeowners to buy and sell properties through a largely digital process. It became one of the most prominent names in the so-called "iBuying" sector, where technology companies purchase homes directly from sellers and streamline real-estate transactions.
His appointment came at a time when the housing market was facing slower activity, higher borrowing costs and increasing pressure on technology companies to improve efficiency and profitability. Throughout his career, Nejatian has built a reputation as an operator rather than a high-profile public figure. Much of his work has centred on simplifying systems, improving execution and scaling organisations.
As Opendoor adapts to changing housing conditions and emerging technologies, Nejatian's leadership is likely to remain closely watched, particularly as companies across the technology industry continue to debate how artificial intelligence will reshape the future workforce.
Opendoor cuts 250 jobs as AI takes on more operational work
As reported by Reuters, recently Opendoor said it will shut its offices in Hyderabad and Bengaluru, ending its India presence roughly two years after expanding into the country. The company confirmed that all 250 employees based there would be affected.
Explaining the decision, Nejatian said many of the operational processes previously handled through large teams had become less dependent on manual work as technology systems were consolidated. The company has increasingly relied on AI-supported workflows and smaller teams located closer to customers in the United States.
While the layoffs have sparked discussion about AI's growing impact on white-collar and operational jobs, they have also put a spotlight on the executive directing Opendoor's next chapter. Nejatian's career spans law, government policy, entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley product management, and senior leadership at some of North America's largest technology companies.
Opendoor CEO Kaz Nejatian's journey from law to technology leadership at Opendoor
Nejatian's route to the corner office differs from that of many technology leaders. After studying business at Queen's University, he earned a law degree from the University of Toronto and initially worked as a lawyer. His professional direction changed when he moved into entrepreneurship and technology, eventually building a career focused on digital products and operations.
Before entering the private technology sector full-time, he also worked for Canada's federal government, where he served in a strategic planning role at Citizenship and Immigration Canada. During that period, he contributed to initiatives including Canada's Startup Visa programme, designed to attract entrepreneurs and investment to the country.
The startup that launched Kaz Nejatian's tech career
Long before joining major technology companies, Nejatian founded Kash, a payment technology startup that focused on alternative payment systems and transaction risk assessment. The company grew from a small operation into a business serving more than 100 clients. Kash was eventually acquired in 2017, marking a significant milestone in Nejatian's entrepreneurial career.
The experience gave him hands-on exposure to building products, raising a business from the ground up and managing rapid growth; skills that would later become valuable in larger corporate leadership roles.
Leadership roles at Facebook and Shopify
Following Kash, Nejatian joined Meta, then known as Facebook, where he worked as a lead product manager. His responsibilities included overseeing payment and billing products across platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Marketplace. The role placed him at the centre of one of the world's largest digital payment ecosystems.
He later moved to Shopify, where his influence expanded significantly over six years. Starting with the leadership of Shopify's financial services division, he went on to become vice-president of merchant services before eventually serving as chief operating officer and vice-president of product. During his time there, Shopify experienced substantial growth and strengthened its position as one of the world's leading e-commerce platforms.
Kaz Nejatian's vision for Opendoor's next chapter
Nejatian became chief executive of Opendoor in September 2025. The company, founded in 2014, is known for allowing homeowners to buy and sell properties through a largely digital process. It became one of the most prominent names in the so-called "iBuying" sector, where technology companies purchase homes directly from sellers and streamline real-estate transactions.
His appointment came at a time when the housing market was facing slower activity, higher borrowing costs and increasing pressure on technology companies to improve efficiency and profitability. Throughout his career, Nejatian has built a reputation as an operator rather than a high-profile public figure. Much of his work has centred on simplifying systems, improving execution and scaling organisations.
As Opendoor adapts to changing housing conditions and emerging technologies, Nejatian's leadership is likely to remain closely watched, particularly as companies across the technology industry continue to debate how artificial intelligence will reshape the future workforce.
Opendoor cuts 250 jobs as AI takes on more operational work
As reported by Reuters, recently Opendoor said it will shut its offices in Hyderabad and Bengaluru, ending its India presence roughly two years after expanding into the country. The company confirmed that all 250 employees based there would be affected.
Explaining the decision, Nejatian said many of the operational processes previously handled through large teams had become less dependent on manual work as technology systems were consolidated. The company has increasingly relied on AI-supported workflows and smaller teams located closer to customers in the United States.
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