Chad Cohen
Chad Cohen

Chad Cohen, who left the CFO gig at Zillow last month after nine years at the online real estate company, has landed a new gig at heavily-funded life sciences upstart Adaptive Biotechnologies.

The hire is not a huge surprise, since Cohen joined the board of Adaptive five months ago. When Cohen announced his resignation from Zillow last month, Adaptive was the first company that came to our minds as his next stop.

“Since joining Adaptive’s Board in March, I have become increasingly excited about the company’s potential,” said Cohen in a statement. “The remarkable pace at which Adaptive has grown along with its outstanding financial footing are evidence of the passion and drive the executive team and employees have for advancing how we understand and treat disease.”

Adaptive is heavily-funded, and the addition of Cohen could signal that the company is getting ready to raise financing in the public markets.

The company, which is working on technologies in the sequencing of T-cell and B-cell receptors in the immune system, raised $195 million in May in one of the largest venture financing rounds in Washington state so far this year. Backers of the company include Matrix Capital, Senator Investment Group, Tiger Management, Rock Springs Capital and others Total funding stands at more than $400 million.

Adaptive’s previous CFO, Dean Schorno, will step down to take another role in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Adaptive is led by Chad Robbins, who previously worked at Pulte Homes and serviced chief operating officer for hedge fund Connaught Real Estate Finance. In a statement, Robbins said that Cohen is the ideal candidate to help support Adaptive’s rapid growth.

Like what you're reading? Subscribe to GeekWire's free newsletters to catch every headline

Job Listings on GeekWork

Find more jobs on GeekWork. Employers, post a job here.