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^[1]. (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^[2] 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.