Veteran engineering leader from Realtor.com, Pandora, and Apple joins executive team
Thumbtack, the technology company helping millions of people confidently care for their homes, today announced the appointment of Chris Patalano as Chief Technology Officer. Chris brings nearly 20 years of engineering and product leadership experience and will oversee all aspects of Thumbtack’s engineering, AI/ML, infrastructure and technology strategy.
Chris most recently served as EVP of Product Engineering at Xero, where he led a global engineering team of over 1,100 engineers, building accounting and SaaS products for small businesses around the world. Prior to that, he was Chief Technology Officer at Realtor.com, where he spearheaded the modernization of one of the largest real estate marketplaces in the U.S., overseeing a cross-functional technology organization. Under his leadership, the company doubled revenue and transformed its consumer and pro-facing products through AI-driven personalization, content enrichment, and platform scalability.
Chris has also held senior engineering leadership roles at Pandora, Apple Music, and Beats Music, where he helped build and scale some of the most beloved consumer-facing platforms in music and media. His work spans large‑scale architectural overhauls, accelerating developer productivity, and building high‑performing teams centered on innovation, experimentation, and user impact.
“Chris brings a rare combination of deep technical expertise, principled leadership, and a mission-driven mindset,” said Marco Zappacosta, co-founder and CEO of Thumbtack. “He’s led complex organizations, building for scale and impact, and always with a strong sense of purpose. We’re excited to welcome him to the team as we deepen our investment in building the platform of the future for homeowners and pros.”
As CTO, Chris will lead Thumbtack’s technical strategy and execution, driving innovation across the platform and ensuring a seamless, reliable experience for homeowners and service professionals. His appointment underscores Thumbtack’s commitment to leveraging technology to support confident homeownership and unlock economic opportunity for local pros.
“I’m honored to join Thumbtack at such a pivotal time in its journey,” said Chris Patalano. “I’ve spent my career building products and platforms that make people’s lives better. Thumbtack’s mission—helping small businesses thrive and homeowners care for their homes more confidently—deeply resonates with me. I’m excited to work alongside this talented team to shape the future of home services.”
Chris holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Cognitive Science with a focus on Human-Computer Interaction from UC San Diego. He has spent his career building technology that connects people with meaningful services—from home buying and home improvement to music, media, and small business support. He’s passionate about growing inclusive teams, driving technical excellence, and creating systems that scale with purpose.
This announcement comes on the heels of Thumbtack’s continued growth and momentum, as the company further establishes itself as the go-to solution for homeowners — helping them know what to do, when to do it, and who to hire to keep their homes running smoothly.
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