Deel appoints Joe Kauffman as President & CFO, Philippe Bouaziz moves into a new role

In his new role, Kauffman brings over 25 years of leadership experience. He most recently served at Credit Karma as CFO and later as CEO, after holding CFO and President roles over his decade-long tenure. 

Previously, he worked with Ribbit Capital, TAL Education Group, New Oriental Education & Technology Group, and The Coca-Cola Company in leading roles. “At Credit Karma, Kauffman led with the precision of a CFO and the instinct of a founder—driving international expansion and growing revenue from $100M+ to $2.3B while expanding operating margins to 37%,” the company shared in an official statement. 

Kauffman succeeds Philippe Bouaziz, who is moving into a new role within the company. Deel shared, “As part of this transition, Philippe Bouaziz, who has served as Deel’s CFO since the company’s founding, will move into the newly established role of Executive Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer, continuing to guide Deel’s strategic growth and long-term vision.” 

“Under Philippe Bouaziz’s financial leadership, Deel has grown from an early-stage startup to a trusted global platform serving over 37,000 businesses in 150+ countries. The company has been profitable for more than three years and recently surpassed $1 billion in annual recurring revenue. Deel has raised over $1 billion in funding from leading investors and now holds a valuation exceeding $17.3 billion,” it added. 

Bouaziz commented, “Watching Deel grow into what it is today has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. Joe brings incredible experience and energy that will help shape Deel’s next milestones.” 

Alex Bouaziz, Co-Founder and CEO of Deel, said, “Having someone of Joe’s caliber join Deel says everything about where we are today and where we’re going. Joe brings a rare combination of deep leadership acumen, operational expertise, and a genuine passion for people—qualities that align perfectly with our culture and mission. His decision to join Deel is a strong validation of the company we’ve built and the leadership position we hold in the market. Joe’s depth of experience will help us continue to operate from a place of strength—advancing our mission with discipline, impact, and global reach.”

Kauffman also shared, “What Alex and Shuo have built is truly exceptional. It’s not just great payroll and HR technology—it’s a movement transforming how people work and get paid around the world. I was drawn to Deel because of its unique culture — a market leader obsessed with innovation and customer success, growing at an exceptional pace and yet still operating with the speed and flexibility of a startup. You can feel the ambition and forward momentum in every conversation here. It’s an exciting time to join, and I’m looking forward to helping fuel the company’s next chapter of growth.”

Dan Westgarth, Chief Operating Officer of Deel, also commented, “I’m thrilled to share that Joe K. is joining Deel as our new President & CFO. Joe brings incredible experience from Credit Karma and other leading public companies, scaling teams, driving growth, and leading through transformation. His leadership will be instrumental as we take Deel to the next stage.” 

This latest transition is one of the most significant ones over the past six months, as the company expands its executive leadership team with key appointments. Most recently, Harish Sharma joined as Chief Risk Officer, Anthony Luis Rodriguez as Chief Compliance Officer, and DeAnn Work as General Counsel. 

“These additions position Deel for continued innovation, compliance readiness, and growth as it prepares for future opportunities in the public markets,” the company added.