Sasan Goodarzi

Sasan Goodarzi is an American business executive who has served as the chief executive officer of the financial software company Intuit since 2019. He succeeded Brad D. Smith in the role, having previously held several senior leadership positions within the company. Under his leadership, Intuit has accelerated its strategic focus on becoming an artificial intelligence-driven expert platform, notably through the acquisition of the marketing platform Mailchimp. Goodarzi is recognized for his emphasis on corporate culture and innovation within the financial technology sector.

Early life and education

Sasan Goodarzi was born in Iran and immigrated to the United States with his family as a child, eventually settling in Florida. He pursued his undergraduate studies in electrical engineering at the University of Central Florida, where he developed a foundational interest in technology and systems. Goodarzi later earned a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, which prepared him for a career in business leadership and strategic management.

Career at Intuit

Goodarzi first joined Intuit in 2004, initially leading the company's consumer tax group, which included the flagship TurboTax product. He played a pivotal role in expanding the division's online presence and user experience. After a brief departure to serve as president of ING Direct USA (later renamed Capital One 360), he returned to Intuit in 2011. Upon his return, he assumed leadership of the Small Business group, overseeing critical products like QuickBooks and Payroll. His tenure in this role was marked by significant growth in the company's cloud computing offerings and international expansion.

Leadership and tenure as CEO

Appointed chief executive officer in January 2019, Sasan Goodarzi succeeded longtime CEO Brad D. Smith. His strategic vision centered on transforming Intuit into an AI-native platform, leveraging technologies like machine learning to power products such as QuickBooks Advanced and TurboTax Live. A major strategic move under his leadership was the acquisition of the email marketing company Mailchimp in 2021 for approximately $12 billion, significantly broadening Intuit's ecosystem for small and medium-sized enterprises. Goodarzi has also emphasized corporate social responsibility, championing initiatives like the Intuit Prosperity Hub plan and focusing on financial literacy through the Intuit Foundation.

Other professional activities

Beyond his executive role at Intuit, Sasan Goodarzi serves on the board of directors for the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, advocating for policies that support technology innovation and economic development in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is also a member of the Business Roundtable, contributing to discussions on national economic policy and corporate governance. Goodarzi frequently speaks at industry forums, including events hosted by the American Institute of CPAs and various fintech conferences, on topics ranging from digital transformation to the future of small business finance.

Personal life

Sasan Goodarzi maintains a relatively private personal life. He resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with his family. In interviews, he has credited his immigrant experience with shaping his resilience and customer-centric philosophy in business. Goodarzi is known to be an advocate for STEM education and has participated in mentorship programs with organizations like Year Up.

Category:American chief executives Category:Intuit people Category:Businesspeople from Florida Category:Living people Category:21st-century American businesspeople