Shopify chief technology officer Parakhin leaves after two years

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, October 21, 2026

Shopify’s chief technology officer, Mikhail Parakhin, is departing after two years of leading the company’s integration of advanced AI and machine learning technologies into its platform. His exit comes as Shopify deepens partnerships with tech giants like Google and Meta to expand AI-driven commerce solutions, signaling a continued focus on innovation in online retail.

Shopify Inc.’s chief technology officer, Mikhail Parakhin, is leaving the company after serving in the role for two years. Parakhin joined the Ottawa-based e-commerce firm in 2024 with the objective of advancing the company’s engineering and data operations, particularly focusing on integrating machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies into its platform.

During his tenure, Shopify made significant strides in adopting agentic AI—systems capable of autonomous decision-making with minimal human oversight—aimed at enhancing the online shopping experience for merchants and customers. These innovations include AI-powered chatbots that assist in product sales, which industry analysts say could transform online retail and advertising landscapes.

Shopify confirmed Parakhin’s departure in a statement issued on Tuesday morning but did not disclose the timing of his exit or the reasons behind it. Rebecca Feigelsohn, a company spokesperson, expressed appreciation for Parakhin’s impact on the company’s engineering and machine learning capabilities and noted that he would continue to serve as an adviser.

Prior to joining Shopify, Parakhin amassed extensive experience in technology. He spent over a decade at Microsoft in various roles, including chief executive officer of advertising and web services, and led projects like the development of Copilot. He also served as chief technology officer of Yandex LLC, a Moscow-based technology and search engine company, where he contributed to the development of search engines, cloud infrastructure, and digital assistants. Parakhin’s background also includes training as a physicist and hands-on work in AI during his personal time.

Under Parakhin’s leadership, Shopify expanded its partnerships with major technology companies. Earlier this year, the firm collaborated with Google and Microsoft to enable customers to purchase Shopify products through the Gemini and Copilot applications. Shopify also introduced a new customer plan allowing brands on other e-commerce platforms to leverage its infrastructure without hosting their own Shopify online stores.

In September, Shopify announced a partnership with Meta to integrate its AI chatbot, Muse, into Shopify’s shopping and automated checkout systems. Additionally, the company worked with Google and other partners to develop the Universal Commerce Protocol, an open standard facilitating AI agents to complete customer checkouts autonomously.

Parakhin was recognized as a 2026 Time Executive of the Year for his contributions to the field. Throughout his career and tenure at Shopify, he has maintained a focus on pushing the boundaries of AI within commerce, a commitment the company credits with helping elevate its technological capabilities during a period of rapid innovation. Attempts to reach Parakhin for comment were unsuccessful.

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