#USA #New York #Preply #Lillian Reaume #Bilal Zia

Preply Elevates U.S. Leadership Team for Global Growth

Preply, recognized as the leading global language learning marketplace, has recently strengthened its U.S. leadership team with two significant executive appointments. The company aims to further solidify its presence in the U.S. market while continuing its global expansion strategy.

New Appointments to Drive Growth

Effective immediately, Lillian Reaume has been appointed as Chief People Officer and Bilal Zia as Vice President of Data Science and Analytics. These appointments come as Preply celebrates a remarkable milestone—a $1.2 billion valuation following an impressive $150 million Series D funding round led by WestCap. This injection of capital signals Preply’s commitment to scaling its operations and expanding its marketplace capabilities.

Lillian Reaume steps into the role of Chief People Officer, where she will oversee the global people organization. Before joining Preply, Reaume held significant positions in prominent companies, including Stitch Fix and Rubrik, where she guided human resources and organizational transformations. Her expertise in building high-performance teams and her experience in managing extensive organizational changes will be vital to Preply as it navigates its next phase of growth.

Reaume expressed her enthusiasm for joining Preply, stating, "Preply has built an exceptional global team, and I'm excited to join at this important moment of incredible opportunity." She emphasized the mission of Preply to connect people across diverse cultures and languages, aiming to enhance the workforce environment and support the company's continued success.

On the other hand, Bilal Zia brings two decades of experience in data science and analytics to his new role at Preply. He has previously held senior positions at Duolingo, Amazon, and the World Bank, which provided him with a deep understanding of how to apply data-driven insights to drive business strategies. Zia will focus on enhancing Preply's data science capabilities to better inform and transform the learner experience throughout the platform.

Zia commented on his new role, saying, "Preply has an unusually rich combination of marketplace, learning, and behavioral data, so there's a real opportunity to better understand what actually drives learner progress." He aims to leverage this data to improve tutor-learner matching and enhance the overall educational experience.

The Road Ahead for Preply

These strategic appointments at Preply are positioned to bolster the company's ambitions as it seeks to seamlessly integrate its international operations with an enhanced focus on U.S. markets. With its established presence in Barcelona, London, and Kyiv, Preply is not only enhancing its management but is also continuously looking for ways to leverage technology and data insights to revolutionize language learning.

As Preply continues to grow, the company's ability to innovate and adapt will be crucial. The integration of Reaume and Zia into its leadership framework exemplifies Preply’s commitment to attracting top talent equipped with the necessary skills to navigate the challenges of rapid growth and technological advancements in the education sector. The blending of people management and data analysis under one roof is anticipated to yield transformative results for the organization, paving the way to achieve its vision of becoming the foremost language learning platform globally.

For those interested in exploring opportunities or learning more about Preply, the company invites you to visit Preply.com.

About Preply

Preply is at the forefront of language learning, providing a human-led and AI-enabled platform dedicated to creating life-changing learning experiences. With over 150,000 tutors and teaching more than 90 languages, Preply supports learners in over 180 countries, aiming to deliver meaningful progression and personalized learning to all.