Leadership team

In 1982, Anant Yardi recognized the need for an integrated accounting and property management software for the residential marketplace. As the director of systems development for Burroughs Corporation (now Unisys) and with 14 years of programming experience, he knew he had the background to design such a product. In 1984, “Basic Property Management” was created for the Apple II computer. Since that time, Anant has directed the company through over 35 years of steady growth, remaining the President and CEO as Yardi became a leader in real estate asset and property management solutions.

Anant’s vision is the driving force behind the development of effective and innovative software solutions for global real estate portfolio management. He has been recognized as one of the early pioneers in the commercial real estate automation industry, a “visionary in respect to automation systems and the resultant benefits in property operations,” according to Realcomm, when they honored him with the 2004 “Digie” award. He was inducted into the Multi-Housing News “Hall of Fame” that same year, and his company continues to receive industry accolades.

Anant has an M.S. in Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley, and B.Tech from Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. He worked for 14 years developing programming methodologies and directing systems development at Burroughs Corporation prior to establishing Yardi Systems.

Rob Teel was appointed CEO starting in January 2026. He joined Yardi in 2003 and after originally working with multifamily clients, spent 2010-2025 leading the Global Solutions business including oversight of product direction, services and client relationships for investment management, international and commercial property owners. Prior to joining Yardi, he was a consulting manager for Accenture in the ERP and business process outsourcing market sectors, where he was a project and program manager for many multinational systems implementations for Fortune 100 organizations. Rob holds B.A. degrees in Management Information Systems and Finance from Florida State University.

Arnie Brier joined Yardi in 2011 with 25 years of experience in corporate and commercial real estate law. Prior to joining Yardi, Arnie was a shareholder at a national law firm leading the firm’s California corporate department. During that time, he worked closely with Yardi on its company acquisitions. His professional experience also includes serving as general counsel for technology companies and as senior counsel for a Fortune 5 company. After many years overseeing Yardi’s Legal and Human Resource departments and managing the company’s M&A efforts, Arnie was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2026. In this role, he oversees Yardi’s business operations, M&A activities, Legal, Human Resources and other key corporate functions. Arnie earned his J.D. from the University of Michigan and his B.A. in Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Akshai Rao serves as president at Yardi, leading strategy, innovation and client success across the company’s residential portfolio. He oversees operations that support thousands of clients globally, helping them leverage Yardi’s technology to enhance efficiency, performance and resident experience. Previously, Akshai led Yardi’s Procure to Pay and Energy businesses, managing implementation and support for over 3,000 clients. Before joining Yardi, he spent five years at Bain & Company focused on technology and telecom. He holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas and an MBA from the University of Michigan..

Arjun Rao serves as Senior Vice President of Product, leading product management and services for Yardi’s Residential division. In this role, he works with Yardi’s clients to improve both the renter experience and property operational performance. Before Yardi, Arjun co-founded and led strategy for an energy company for eight years. Prior to that, Arjun was a management consultant with Bain & Company, where he worked with clients on a range of projects, including growth strategy, operational efficiency, market entries, acquisition due diligences, and merger integrations. Arjun received both his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Masters in Public Affairs from The University of Texas at Austin and studied Math and Economics at the London School of Economics. 

Kevin Yardi serves as Senior Vice President of Global Solutions, leading strategy, service delivery, and client success for Yardi’s commercial and investment management clients worldwide. He oversees global support and implementation operations, driving successful deployment of Yardi’s technology platform for the company’s largest and most complex clients. For Kevin, the company’s founding principle — take care of our clients, take care of our employees, take care of our communities — is more than a motto. It’s a standard he holds personally, reflected in his focus on long-term partnerships and the sustained success of the teams and clients he serves. Kevin joined Yardi in 2013 following more than eight years in technology consulting, where he led large-scale ERP transformations for enterprise clients. He holds a B.A. in Economics from Colby College.

Terri Dowen joined Yardi’s sales department in 1993 and was instrumental in developing regional sales territories as a Regional Sales Manager. In 1997, she became the Director of Sales; in 1998, she became Vice President of Sales; and in 1999, she was promoted to her current position as Senior Vice President of Sales. Under her direction, Yardi has achieved record-level sales. Prior to her career with Yardi, Terri spent five years in the banking industry. Terri attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she studied Business Economics.

John Pendergast joined Yardi in 1997 and has worked on product support, implementations, training, and consulting relationships. John has been active in residential, military, student housing, and commercial implementation projects. Before coming to Yardi, John was a member of the fiscal management team at the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and an MIS Consultant to the State of Massachusetts. John holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Baylor University, a Graduate Certificate in Mediation and Dispute Resolution from the University of Massachusetts, and a Master of Public Administration from Suffolk University in Boston, Massachusetts.

Joel Loewen serves as Vice President of Cloud at Yardi, where he oversees the company’s global data centers, cloud architecture, and infrastructure. In this role, he is responsible for ensuring the scalability, reliability, and security of Yardi’s cloud environments, supporting the technology foundation that clients depend on to run their businesses. Joel brings more than 25 years of experience in the technology industry, with deep expertise in data center architecture and SaaS delivery. He has been with Yardi for 15 years, contributing institutional knowledge and steady leadership to the company’s cloud operations. He holds a B.A. from the University of British Columbia and a Diploma from the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

As Vice President of Human Resources at Yardi, Martin leads the company’s global Human Resources, Talent Acquisition, and Training functions. Since joining Yardi in December 2022, he has advanced through a series of leadership roles—including Director of Talent Acquisition and Director of Training and Talent Acquisition—culminating in his current position. In his role, Martin drives innovative people strategies, champions learning and development, and fosters an environment for employees to reach their full potential.
Before joining Yardi, Martin held senior HR and talent leadership positions across a range of industries. His previous roles include Associate Vice President at AXA Group – US, Vice President at Prudential, and Director at CBRE.
Martin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Management from the University of Texas at Dallas and a master’s degree in Human Resources and Development from Amberton University.

Sally Parks joined Yardi in 1995, initially working in the Multiple Listings Services Group and later in Sales. As Yardi expanded, Sally was entrusted with establishing the Human Resources Department, and in 2007, she was promoted to Vice President. Today, she leads Company Culture initiatives, focusing on fostering Yardi’s uniquely family-friendly, inclusive, and people-centered environment across global teams.
Prior to joining Yardi, Sally held management roles on the East Coast with Digital Equipment Corporation. She brings a strong foundation in human behavior and organizational development, holding a B.A. in Sociology and Psychology from the University of Massachusetts and certifications in Mediation and Negotiation from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Sally is a passionate advocate for Yardi’s culture of kindness, fairness, flexibility, and continuous learning — believing that treating people well is the foundation of the company’s success.