Leading cloud financial controls and automation software company continues executive team expansion with addition of software engineering veteran to oversee global technology direction

Financial controls and automation software leader BlackLine, Inc. (Nasdaq: BL) continues its investment in new executive talent with the hiring of Pete Hirsch as chief technology officer (CTO).  Mr. Hirsch is a seasoned software engineer, architect and strategist with more than 30 years of experience scaling technology organizations for dynamic, fast-growing companies, as well as larger enterprises.

As CTO at BlackLine, Hirsch will be responsible for the technology direction of BlackLine’s flagship cloud platform as the company seeks to capitalize on the growing worldwide demand for solutions that drive greater efficiency, financial governance and risk management across the spectrum of financial operations.  He also will spearhead the company’s internal technology roadmap, overseeing Technical Operations, Engineering, IT and Governance, reporting to CEO Therese Tucker.

“BlackLine’s technology needs, both internal and external, have grown exponentially along with our global customer base.  We’ve been searching for someone with that rare mix of exceptional interpersonal and management skills, as well as the technical knowledge and expertise to run a leading-edge technology organization,” Ms. Tucker said.  “Pete is that person.  He has a broad range of skills, including leading IT and tech ops in addition to engineering, at companies of various sizes where he has been instrumental in providing the technology vision, strategy and leadership to help the organizations scale from concept through acquisitions and beyond.”

Hirsch comes to BlackLine with experience building, transforming and operating large-scale cloud software businesses, primarily in Fintech and Procurement, with end-to-end ownership of product strategy, product development, public and private cloud operations, cloud transformations and leadership of large teams spanning Engineering, Cloud, Cybersecurity and Enterprise IT departments.  He was most recently executive vice president of Technology & Operations at Ellie Mae, where he led a team of more than 900, overseeing all facets of technology including product development, data centres, public cloud and SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) operations, as well as cybersecurity and internal IT systems.

Prior to that he spent several years as senior vice president and chief architect at Ariba and then as senior vice president, Ariba Cloud Engineering & Technology at SAP, following the enterprise application software leader’s acquisition of Ariba.  Previously, he led a SaaS business unit at IBM over the course of more than 10 years as the global information technology giant acquired several smaller companies.

“BlackLine has done an amazing job defining the future of accounting and pioneering Continuous Accounting, which is fundamentally transforming processes and unlocking efficiencies through automation and data intelligence,” said Hirsch.  “The opportunity to build on this foundation and help the company scale to drive this industry transformation is huge.  I look forward to working with Therese and the rest of her outstanding management team to make it happen.”

Hirsch holds both a Master of Science and a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California.

Tucker added, “With Pete on board, I’m confident we can scale and grow and deliver our technology vision to an ever-growing number of customers around the world.”

Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” “plan,” anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “intend,” “potential,” “would,” “continue,” “ongoing” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology.  Forward-looking statements in this release include statements regarding our growth plans and opportunities.

Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon BlackLine’s current plans, estimates and expectations and are not a representation that such plans, estimates, or expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or management’s good faith beliefs and assumptions as of that time with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties.  If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize or if any assumptions prove incorrect, actual performance or results may differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements.  These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks related to the Company’s ability to execute on its strategies, attract new customers, enter new geographies and regions and develop, release and sell new features and solutions; and other risks and uncertainties described in the other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including the risks described under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 8, 2018.  Additional information will also be set forth in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2018.

Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and you should not place undue reliance on such statements.  Except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.