Etsy Taps Kruti Patel Goyal as Next CEO: Strategic Leadership Shift Takes Effect January 1, 2026

Etsy has unveiled a significant leadership transition that will reshape the company’s strategic direction heading into 2026. Kruti Patel Goyal, the company’s President and Chief Growth Officer, will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer and join Etsy’s Board of Directors, effective January 1, 2026. The move marks a generational shift, as outgoing CEO Josh Silverman steps down after more than eight years steering the marketplace platform.

The Transition Timeline and Continuity Plan

Silverman, who has led Etsy since the beginning of 2017, opted to pass the leadership reins to the next generation of executives. Rather than an abrupt departure, the transition is designed with stability in mind. Silverman will remain actively involved as Executive Chair through December 31, 2026, providing guidance and ensuring smooth operations during the changeover.

Fred Wilson, who has chaired Etsy’s Board since 2017, is stepping back from the Chairman role but will retain his position as a board member, underscoring continued leadership continuity at the highest levels.

Kruti Patel Goyal’s Track Record and Rise

Patel Goyal brings deep operational expertise to the CEO position. Her journey within the Etsy ecosystem spans over a decade, during which she held multiple leadership positions overseeing product development, seller services, corporate development, and marketplace trust and safety initiatives.

The executive’s most recent external experience came at Depop, the secondhand fashion resale marketplace, where she served as CEO starting in September 2022. During her tenure there, the platform achieved remarkable growth metrics: gross merchandise sales and the buyer base nearly doubled. Depop emerged as the fastest-growing online apparel resale marketplace in the United States and earned recognition on TIME’s list of the 100 Most Influential Companies in 2024.

Before her Depop appointment, Patel Goyal accumulated strategic experience at prominent firms including Viacom and Product (RED), in addition to her extensive tenure at Etsy itself.

The Case for Change: Eight Years of Growth Under Silverman

Silverman’s departure comes after a transformative period for Etsy. Under his leadership, the company achieved substantial milestones:

• Active buyer base more than tripled
• Gross Merchandise Sales (GMS) expanded fourfold
• Revenue grew nearly eightfold compared to 2016 levels
• Share price appreciated more than seven times since May 2017

These metrics demonstrate Etsy’s expansion while maintaining its core mission of humanizing commerce. The marketplace has successfully balanced growth ambitions with its commitment to keeping commerce personal and creator-focused.

Strategic Priorities Moving Forward

Patel Goyal articulated her vision for the company’s future, emphasizing continuity with innovation. She stressed that Etsy will evolve to meet changing customer needs while remaining true to its foundational identity. The strategy prioritizes three key elements: human connection, seller creativity, and distinctly personal shopping experiences.

One immediate focus is returning Etsy’s core marketplace to GMS growth and delivering measurable value to both the community and shareholders. Patel Goyal noted that the company has been executing on this trajectory throughout the current year.

Leadership Confidence and Board Backing

The transition reflects rigorous succession planning by Etsy’s Board. Fred Wilson praised Patel Goyal’s demonstrated leadership contributions during her tenure at Etsy, noting the Board’s full confidence in her ability to guide the company forward.

Silverman expressed similar optimism about the transition, highlighting Patel Goyal’s talents and track record: “In addition to her tremendous success as CEO of Depop, over the past year Kruti has evolved and led Etsy’s strategic growth initiatives, which has led to improving top-line performance.”

About Etsy’s Marketplace Model

Etsy operates two interconnected online marketplaces—the flagship Etsy marketplace for unique and creative goods, and Depop for fashion resale. Both platforms share the mission to keep commerce human while leveraging shared expertise across product, marketing, technology, and customer support functions. Headquartered in Brooklyn since its 2005 founding, Etsy connects millions of creative entrepreneurs with passionate buyers worldwide.