BLEND Names New CEO Amid Strategic Growth and Innovation

Language services provider BLEND has announced the appointment of Yoav Ziv as its new CEO. Ziv, a seasoned professional with 27 years of experience in business and technology, including executive roles at Amdocs, succeeds Yair Tal, who has held the position since 2019.

In a press release discussing the transition, Tal expressed his satisfaction with the appointment, emphasizing Ziv’s suitability to guide BLEND through its next phase of expansion, which includes further acquisitions and the development of new services. During his five-year leadership, Tal oversaw the company’s rebranding from its original name, One Hour Translation, and steered the privately-held LSP to profitability. Notably, Tal played a pivotal role in securing a USD 10 million investment from Tel Aviv-based venture capital firm Fortissimo Capital during a funding round in February 2021.

Following this financial milestone, BLEND acquired Atlanta-based GM Voices in June 2021. GM Voices, known for its work in recorded voice and audio localization, gained recognition for providing the voice behind Siri. More recently, BLEND expanded its team through the February 2024 acquisition of Israeli LSP Manpower Language Solutions (MLS), which significantly increased the company’s headcount. Many members of the MLS leadership team integrated into BLEND’s workforce, which now includes 120 employees.

Ziv, who was introduced to BLEND by the company’s investors, is joined by another new member of the leadership team. In November 2024, BLEND appointed Heelee Kriesler, a former PwC partner, as Chief Customer Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Ziv, whose previous roles include leadership positions at Qualitest and Checkmarx, highlighted the opportunities presented by the industry’s ongoing technological advancements. He described the current moment as an exciting time for the localization sector, brimming with potential.

Among these opportunities is BLEND’s newest product, Flexi, unveiled in December 2024. Flexi is a cutting-edge localization tool that integrates large language models (LLMs), AI-driven quality estimation, and human linguistic expertise. Designed to cater to content creators and software developers, the tool allows users to define and adjust acceptable levels of translation quality. Human editing is only employed when necessary, offering a blend of efficiency and precision.

With new leadership and innovative tools, BLEND is poised to solidify its position as a leader in the localization industry while embracing the possibilities of technological advancement and global collaboration.

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