The RealReal appoints Ajay Gopal as CFO, Karen Katz as chairperson of the board

Online luxury resale platform The RealReal has announced the appointment of Ajay Gopal as chief financial officer, effective March 18.

Alongside this appointment, the company also disclosed that Karen Katz, a current board member, has been appointed as chairperson of its board of directors, effective February 20.

Gopal served as CFO of Outside Interactive and held similar positions at tech-enabled consumer companies such as Good Eggs, Helix, and StubHub. At StubHub, he is credited for playing a pivotal role in steering the finance department through a transformative phase, overseeing substantial revenue growth and global expansion. He has also held senior leadership positions in finance at eBay and GE Healthcare. 

“I’m thrilled to welcome Ajay to The RealReal,” said John Koryl, The RealReal’s chief executive officer. “Not only does Ajay have robust experience in high-growth and transformative businesses, but his diverse background and experience across e-commerce and two-sided marketplaces is invaluable as The RealReal continues its drive toward profitability.”

He will replace Robert Julian who announced they would step down from their role as chief financial officer, in September. 

“Over the past few years, resale has gained significant momentum and attention from consumers as well as investors,” added Gopal. “I am drawn to The RealReal’s best-in-class experience, and I’m excited to be partnering with this exceptional team to continue to execute on its strategy and create long-term value for our stockholders.”

Meanwhile, Katz is the former CEO of Neiman Marcus Group, where she leveraged Neiman Marcus’ brick-and-mortar presence – including Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and Last Call – to launch its omnichannel strategy. She also led the 2014 acquisition of luxury e-commerce retailer, Mytheresa. Katz’s extensive board experience includes serving on the boards of Under Armour, Humana, and Rokt.

“Karen has made immeasurable contributions to The RealReal since she joined the Board in 2021. Her industry knowledge, strategy expertise and proven track record is unmatched. This appointment comes at a critical time for the company as we focus on profitable growth, and I am confident she will help take The RealReal to new heights,” added Koryl.