Blake Irving
{{Infobox person
| name = Blake Irving
| image = Blake Irving photo.jpg
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|8|8}}
| education = MBA
| alma_mater = Pepperdine University
}}
Blake Irving is the American former Chief Executive Officer and Board Director of GoDaddy.{{cite news |last=Hall |first=Kat |date= 2 Aug 2019|title= GoDaddy's daddy goes: Chief exec Scott Wagner steps down as hosting biz swings into the red|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2019/08/02/godaddy_ceo_resigns/ |work= The Register |access-date=2 Aug 2019 }} Before coming to GoDaddy in 2013, Blake Irving worked for Yahoo! and Microsoft where he helped develop NetMeeting, MSN Messenger, and Hotmail.
Early life and education
Blake Irving was born on August 8, 1959, to James Scott Irving and Patricia Ann Irving in Ohio.{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}} Irving's father was in the FBI and consequently moved the family around the country.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/13/business/blake-irving-of-godaddy-at-the-top-you-get-to-set-the-tone.html|title=Blake Irving of GoDaddy: At the Top, You Get to Set the Tone|last=Bryant|first=Adam|date=2016-11-11|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2017-01-24}} Irving lived with his brother, Scott, and his sisters, Lisa and Lori. {{Citation needed|date=January 2017}} Irving played the drums from the age of seven,{{cite magazine|url=http://fortune.com/2016/08/08/blake-irving-fortune-unfiltered/|title=GoDaddy CEO Blake Irving Is More Than Just a 'Product Guy'|magazine=Fortune}} and was an artist while attending the Newbury Park High School{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016-how-did-i-get-here/blake-irving.html|title=How Did I Get Here? Blake Irving|newspaper=Bloomberg.com|publisher=|via=www.bloomberg.com}} in Southern California. Irving is a graduate of San Diego State University and received an MBA degree from Pepperdine University.{{Cite web|url=http://president.calpoly.edu/bakerforum/blakeirving|title=Baker Forum - Blake Irving - President's Office - Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo|website=president.calpoly.edu|language=en|access-date=2017-01-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202030055/http://president.calpoly.edu/bakerforum/blakeirving|archive-date=2017-02-02|url-status=dead}} He has served as a professor at Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Business and Management,{{cite magazine|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/velocity/2010/04/19/yahoo-adds-blake-irving-as-chief-product-officer/#3ecbc3ae6513|title=Yahoo Adds Blake Irving As Chief Product Officer|first=Jay|last=Yarow|magazine=Forbes}} and has been named a distinguished alumnus.{{cite web|url=https://bschool.pepperdine.edu/mba-programs/|title=MBA Degree Programs |website=bschool.pepperdine.edu}}
Career
= Xerox =
Irving began working at Xerox in 1981,{{cite web |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2015/10/16/q-a-with-godaddys-blake-irving-on-the-companys.html |title=Q&A GoDaddy CEO Blake Irving on Grace Hopper and diversity in tech - Silicon Valley Business Journal |website=www.bizjournals.com |access-date=25 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808025054/http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2015/10/16/q-a-with-godaddys-blake-irving-on-the-companys.html |archive-date=8 August 2016 |url-status=dead}} where he provided Greek fonts for electronic typesetting.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=77RPL09TOTIC&pg=PA8|title=John Rainold's Oxford Lectures on Aristotle's Rhetoric|first=John|last=Rainolds|date=2 November 1986|publisher=University of Delaware Press|isbn=9780874132878|via=Google Books}} He eventually became a manager at the company's Font Support Center.{{cite web|url=http://quotes.wsj.com/GDDY/company-people/executive-profile/117660843|title=GDDY Company Profile & Executives - GoDaddy Inc. Cl A - Wall Street Journal|website=quotes.wsj.com|access-date=2017-11-02|archive-date=2017-11-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107011732/http://quotes.wsj.com/GDDY/company-people/executive-profile/117660843|url-status=dead}} Irving worked at PARC during the development of WYSIWYG technology,{{Cite web|title = A brief, early history of Xerox PARC and the development of the personal computer|url = http://hightechhistory.com/2011/06/02/a-brief-early-history-of-xerox-parc-and-the-development-of-the-personal-computer/|website = High Tech History|access-date = 2016-01-25|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160204113613/http://hightechhistory.com/2011/06/02/a-brief-early-history-of-xerox-parc-and-the-development-of-the-personal-computer/|archive-date = 2016-02-04|url-status = dead}} Irving also worked at Oki Electric Company{{cite web|url=https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/245135/att-presses-judge-to-dismiss-throttling-case.html|title=AT&T Presses Judge To Dismiss Throttling Case|website=Mediapost.com}} and Compaq computer.{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2015/04/01/the-internets-first-gatekeepers-are-getting-older-and-the-web-is-leaving-them-behind/|title=The Internet's first gatekeepers are getting older, and the Web is leaving them behind|first=Drew|last=Harwell|date=1 April 2015|website=Washingtonpost.com}}
= Microsoft =
Irving was a product manager for Microsoft's telecommunications business unit in 1994,{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hzgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA35|title=InfoWorld|date=6 June 1994|publisher=InfoWorld Media Group, Inc.|via=Google Books}} and a group manager the Personal Systems Division in 1995.{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uBgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA12|title=Network World|first=IDG Network World|last=Inc|date=13 February 1995|publisher=IDG Network World Inc|via=Google Books}} In 1996, he was the group manager for the Internet Platform and Tools Division,{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_vj4EAAAAMBAJ|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_vj4EAAAAMBAJ/page/n98 12]|title=InfoWorld|date=18 March 1996|publisher=InfoWorld Media Group, Inc.|via=Internet Archive}} and he would later be named Corporate Vice President.{{Cite web|title=The new Microsoft hegemony: Kevin Johnson's reorg rundown |url=http://gawker.com/162614/the-new-microsoft-hegemony-kevin-johnsons-reorg-rundown |website=Gawker |access-date=2016-01-25 |language=en-US |last=ndouglas |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131163805/http://gawker.com/162614/the-new-microsoft-hegemony-kevin-johnsons-reorg-rundown |archive-date=2016-01-31 }} As head of the Windows Live Platform, Irving managed a $1 billion global R&D budget and oversaw development teams in the US, India, China and Europe.{{Cite web|title = Global Availability of MSN Messenger and MSN Spaces Connects People Around the World|url = http://news.microsoft.com/2005/04/07/global-availability-of-msn-messenger-and-msn-spaces-connects-people-around-the-world/|website = News Center|date = 7 April 2005|access-date = 2016-01-25|language = en-US}} Irving was also Corporate Vice President of MSN Communication Services{{Cite web|title = The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: MSN Spaces, Microsoft's new, free service, courts bloggers|url = http://old.seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2002106573_msn02.html|website = old.seattletimes.com|access-date = 2016-01-25}} and Merchant Platforms.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rRJQELy1-sQC&pg=PA85|title=Critical Power Tools|date=June 2007 |publisher=SUNY Press|isbn=9780791481660|via=Google Books}} Irving was also a Member of Platform Group of MessageCast Inc. and was involved in overseeing other Microsoft products including NetMeeting,{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jToEAAAAMBAJ&q=blake+irving+netmeeting&pg=PA35-IA3|title=InfoWorld|date=4 November 1996|publisher=InfoWorld Media Group, Inc.|via=Google Books}} Outlook Express, MSN Messenger,{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/blake-irving-becomes-go-daddy-ceo-2012-12|title=Ex-Yahoo Product Boss Blake Irving Named Go Daddy CEO|website=Business Insider}} Hotmail,{{cite news|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/business/its-not-your-fathers-godaddy-says-new-ceo/|title=It's not your father's GoDaddy, says new CEO|date=29 August 2015|newspaper=Seattle Times}} Xbox Live,{{Cite web|title = The Seattle Times: Microsoft: Making online connections the Microsoft way|url = http://old.seattletimes.com/html/microsoft/2002413741_mscommunity01.html|website = old.seattletimes.com|access-date = 2016-01-25}} and other Microsoft applications.{{Cite web|title = Gates: We're entering 'live era' of software - CNET|url = https://www.cnet.com/news/gates-were-entering-live-era-of-software/|website = CNET|access-date = 2016-01-25}}{{Cite web|title = Knock, knock, knock . . .|url = http://www.itbusiness.ca/news/knock-knock-knock/8930|website = IT Business|date = 20 June 2006|access-date = 2016-01-25}}
= Yahoo! =
Irving worked at Yahoo! Inc. from May 2010 to April 1, 2012.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P-wwDgAAQBAJ&pg=PA145|title=Leadership|first1=Marian|last1=Iszatt-White|first2=Christopher|last2=Saunders|date=9 March 2017|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780198777113|via=Google Books}} He was the Chief Product Officer,{{Cite web|title = Onetime Microsoft exec Blake Irving joins Yahoo - CNET|url = https://www.cnet.com/news/onetime-microsoft-exec-blake-irving-joins-yahoo/|website = CNET|access-date = 2016-01-25}}{{Cite web|title = Yahoo Confirms Hiring of Former Microsoft Exec Blake Irving as Chief Product Officer|url = http://allthingsd.com/20100419/yahoo-confirms-former-microsoft-exec-blake-irving-hired-as-chief-product-officer/|website = AllThingsD|access-date = 2016-01-25|language = en-us}}{{Cite press release|title = Blake Irving Joins Yahoo! as Chief Product Officer {{!}} Business Wire|url = http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100419006339/en/Blake-Irving-Joins-Yahoo!-Chief-Product-Officer|website = www.businesswire.com|access-date = 2016-01-25}} and its Executive Vice President.{{Cite web|title = Here's The New Yahoo Leadership Structure (For Now)|url = https://gigaom.com/2011/09/06/419-heres-the-new-leadership-structure-for-yahoo-for-now/|website = gigaom.com|date = 2011-09-06|access-date = 2016-01-25|first = Staci D.|last = Kramer|archive-date = 2016-01-31|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160131070434/https://gigaom.com/2011/09/06/419-heres-the-new-leadership-structure-for-yahoo-for-now/|url-status = dead}} Irving left Yahoo! during Scott Thompson's CEO-ship.{{Cite web|title = Yahoo CEO Scott Thompson to Step Down [REPORT]|url = https://news.yahoo.com/yahoo-ceo-scott-thompson-step-down-report-160825564.html|website = Yahoo News|access-date = 2016-01-25}}{{Cite news|title = The Undoing of Scott Thompson at Yahoo — Common Sense|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/19/business/the-undoing-of-scott-thompson-at-yahoo-common-sense.html|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 2012-05-18|access-date = 2016-01-25|issn = 0362-4331|first = James B.|last = Stewart}}{{Cite web|title = Yahoo confirms CEO is out after resume scandal|url = https://money.cnn.com/2012/05/13/technology/yahoo-ceo-out/index.htm|website = CNNMoney|access-date = 2016-01-25|first = Julianne|last = Pepitone}} While at Yahoo!, Irving was in charge of Yahoo! Mail, and specific theme-based Yahoo! sites like news, sports, and finance.{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Blake-Irving-Yahoo-chief-product-officer-quits-3465379.php|title=Blake Irving, Yahoo chief product officer, quits|newspaper=SF Gate}}
= GoDaddy =
Irving became Chief Executive Officer of GoDaddy in January 2013.{{Cite web|title = Former Yahoo Exec Blake Irving Named CEO of Domain Giant Go Daddy|url = http://allthingsd.com/20121211/former-yahoo-exec-blake-irving-named-ceo-of-domain-giant-go-daddy/|website = AllThingsD|access-date = 2016-01-25|language = en-us}}{{Cite web|title = Go Daddy hires former Microsoft and Yahoo exec Blake Irving as next CEO|url = https://www.engadget.com/2012/12/11/go-daddy-hire-blake-irving-ceo/|website = Engadget|access-date = 2016-01-25}}{{Cite web|title = Scottsdale's GoDaddy.com Reaffirms Company Vision And Announces New CEO: Blake Irving|url = http://aztechbeat.com/2012/12/scottsdales-godaddy-com-reaffirms-company-vision-and-announces-new-ceo-blake-irving/|website = AZ Tech Beat|access-date = 2016-01-25|language = en-US}}{{Cite web|title = GoDaddy Doubles Down On Product With A New CEO: Ex-Yahoo Product Chief Blake Irving|url = https://techcrunch.com/2012/12/11/godaddy-has-a-new-ceo-ex-yahoo-blake-irving/|website = TechCrunch|access-date = 2016-01-25|first = Ingrid|last = Lunden| date=11 December 2012 }} Under Irving, the company stopped airing sexually provocative commercials it had become known for, which had fed the company's reputation for sexism.{{Cite web|title = New Go Daddy CEO Blake Irving Says The Commercials Need To Change|url = http://www.businessinsider.com/new-go-daddy-ceo-blake-irving-says-the-commercials-need-to-change-2012-12|website = Business Insider|access-date = 2016-01-25}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/3041434/why-godaddy-is-finally-trying-to-repairing-its-sexist-reputation|title=The Man Who Is Attempting To Repair GoDaddy's Sexist Reputation|date=29 January 2015|magazine=Fast Company}} Other changes by Irving including hiring Elissa Murphy as Chief Technical Officer.{{Cite web|title = Elissa Murphy, One of Yahoo's High-Profile Tech Execs, Heads to Go Daddy as CTO (Memo Time!)|url = http://allthingsd.com/20130402/elissa-murphy-one-of-yahoos-top-woman-tech-execs-heads-to-go-daddy-as-cto/|website = AllThingsD|access-date = 2016-01-25|language = en-us}} Irving said he would retire from the company at the end of 2017.{{cite magazine|url=http://fortune.com/2017/09/25/kaiser-permanente-godaddy-ceo-diversity/|title=Kaiser Permanente and GoDaddy CEOs Share How They're Promoting Diversity and Inclusion|magazine=Fortune}}
= Autodesk =
In March 2019, Autodesk appointed Blake Irving to Board of Directors effective March 22, 2019.{{Cite press release|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/autodesk-appoints-blake-irving-to-board-of-directors-300817874.html|title=Autodesk Appoints Blake Irving to Board of Directors|last=Inc|first=Autodesk|website=Prnewswire.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-06}}
= Other activities =
Irving was an executive producer of Code: Debugging the Gender Gap, a 2015 documentary about the lack of women and people of color in computer science.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/03/30/women-coding-code-debugging-the-gender-gap-premiers-at-tribeca-film-festival/70693424/|title=Why women won't code is topic of new documentary|website=Usatoday.com|access-date=2016-06-19}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.streetinsider.com/Press+Releases/GoDaddy+CEO+Blake+Irving+Executive+Producer+for+CODE+Documentary%25C2%25A0/10387751.html|title=GoDaddy CEO Blake Irving Executive Producer for CODE Documentary|website=StreetInsider.com|access-date=2016-06-19}}{{Cite web|url=http://fortune.com/2015/03/23/godaddy-women-documentary/|title=GoDaddy's latest attempt to escape its sexist reputation|date=2015-03-23|website=Fortune.com|access-date=2016-06-19}}