CPPA Executive Director To Depart in Early 2025

SAN FRANCISCO —The California Privacy Protection Agency’s (CPPA) Executive Director, Ashkan Soltani, announced today that he will depart the Agency in January 2025.

Mr. Soltani was appointed to his position by the CPPA Board in October 2021. He was the Agency’s first employee and worked diligently to guide the organization to where it is today.

"It’s been an honor and privilege to serve as the founding Executive Director of the CPPA. Californians enjoy the strongest privacy protections in the nation, thanks in part to the remarkable dedication and hard work of our talented team. I am confident the Agency is well-positioned to continue leading California—and the nation—in privacy and consumer protection, setting new standards, shaping policies that put people first, and building a future where individuals’ rights are protected and vigorously enforced."

Under Mr. Soltani’s leadership, the Agency made significant strides in a very short time. The Agency has grown to approximately 45 employees and seven divisions in just over three years. It finalized a rulemaking package to add protections to the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in alignment with the voter-approved Prop 24. The Agency is currently in the process of additional rulemaking packages that will further California consumers’ privacy rights, and is also working to build a first-of-its-kind Data Broker Deletion Request and Opt-Out Platform, which once operational, will greatly simplify Californian consumers’ ability to delete their personal information.

During his tenure, Mr. Soltani also prioritized building a strong enforcement division and a robust public outreach campaign. In less than two years, the enforcement team launched a complaint portal, opened numerous ongoing investigations, and issued sweeps and enforcement advisories. The Agency also initiated a statewide public awareness campaign and privacy.ca.gov, a resource to help consumers better understand their privacy rights and how to exercise them.

The Agency has also worked with privacy agencies in other states and international data protection authorities (DPA) to facilitate collaboration efforts and for information sharing purposes. Thanks to this effort, the Agency has signed partnerships with DPAs in Europe and Asia, and was the first state in the U.S. to be admitted as a full voting member of the Global Privacy Assembly.

“I am grateful for Ashkan’s leadership and tireless work to make the Agency what it is today,” said Jennifer Urban, CPPA Board Chair. “Thanks to his commitment and vision, the CPPA has a solid foundation and has numerous successes to build on for years to come.”

About Us

The California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) is committed to promoting the education and awareness of consumers’ privacy rights and businesses’ responsibilities under the California Consumer Privacy Act.

Individuals can visit privacy.ca.gov to access helpful and up-to-date information on how to exercise their rights and protect their personal information. In addition, the Agency’s website provides important information about CPPA board meetings, announcements, and the rulemaking process.