OptimHire, the first personalized AI recruiter, today announced the expansion of its leadership team, appointing Veronica Kautz as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) and Sam Bhooshi as Vice President of Sales. The strategic appointments come at a pivotal moment for OptimHire, which plans to expand into new geographical markets on the heels of its latest $5 million fundraise. 

“After a strong year for OptimHire defined by growth in ARR and new capital, our sights are set on bringing personalized, AI-powered recruiting to new markets,” said Lakshmi (Larry) Kodali, CEO and Founder of OptimHire. “Bringing decades of combined experience from companies like ZipRecruiter and Monster.com, their leadership will be crucial in meeting this goal, and we’re pleased to have them on board.” 

Veronica Kautz, Chief Revenue Officer (CRO)

Kautz is bringing over two decades of experience in the talent acquisition industry to OptimHire, having held leadership roles at industry-defining companies, including Yahoo! HotJobs, Simply Hired, and ZipRecruiter. During her nearly seven-year tenure at ZipRecruiter, she was instrumental in supporting their Agency, Staffing, and Enterprise segments, helping scale the business through key growth phases. A skilled executive adept at human capital planning, she excels in exceeding revenue targets and fostering world-class sales teams. As OptimHire’s CRO, Kautz will lead global revenue strategy and execution, spearhead go-to-market efforts, and forge strategic partnerships to drive the company’s next phase of growth.

“Throughout my career, I've been passionate about building and scaling high-performing sales organizations—especially early-stage startups. What drew me to OptimHire was the strength of the product, the natural fluency of its AI, and the executive team's deep commitment to innovation, “ said Veronica Kautz, OptimHire’s new CRO. “They’re not just keeping pace with technology—they’re leading it. With our AI’s ability to source and screen thousands of candidates in minutes, we’re uniquely positioned to help companies hire faster, smarter, and more affordably. I'm excited to help bring this vision to more partners and clients around the world.”

Samuel Bhooshi, Vice President of Sales

Bhooshi is a seasoned sales leader with more than two decades of experience across various industries, specializing in job portals and the recruiting ecosystem. As the Vice President of Sales and Solutions at OptimHire, he brings a strategic, results-driven approach to driving growth and delivering value to clients. Prior to joining OptimHire, Bhooshi spent seventeen years at Monster.com – US Sales, where he played a pivotal role in supporting and scaling efforts across SMB, Mid-Market, Staffing, and Enterprise segments. Known for his strong business acumen and consultative selling approach, he also has a proven track record of exceeding revenue targets, building high-performing teams, and delivering impactful, data-driven talent solutions. Bhoohsi's expertise will be instrumental in expanding OptimHire's market presence and driving sales growth.​

“From cost savings to shorter hiring timelines, OptimHire has set a high standard for AI’s role in recruiting,” said Sam Bhooshi. “I’m eager to be a part of this journey, and look forward to working closely with the team to expand our reach and help even more businesses hire smarter and faster.” 

Learn more about OptimHire and its new leadership team at https://www.optimhire.com.