Udemy’s Last CEO Quietly Moves On: Joins a Tax & Compliance Company as CEO
Author: Kanishka Nangare
Published: June 1, 2026
Source: Class Central Report
Key Points
Hugo Sarrazin, who served as Udemy’s CEO for 14 months and led the company through its $2.5 billion all-stock merger with Coursera, has quietly moved on to become CEO of Avalara, a tax and compliance software company.
- Neither Udemy nor Coursera issued a press release about Sarrazin’s departure
- He is not mentioned in Coursera’s merger completion 8-K filing despite being on the Board
- Sarrazin directly announced his new role at Avalara
- He replaces Avalara co-founder Scott McFarlane (CEO of 22 years)
- The only mention of his Udemy tenure is in Avalara’s own press release
Context
Under Sarrazin’s leadership, Udemy achieved its first profitable year and closed the landmark merger with Coursera. His quiet departure — without any farewell announcement from either company — is notable given the scale of the deal and his role in executing it.