Blake Nielsen

Bnielsen@optimarrow.com

Founder, Optimarrow LLC

Chicago, IL

 

Board ready executive with legal, risk management, governance/compliance, and operational experience in high growth, regulatory-light, and public company settings.

Transaction Leadership:

  • Key member of the deal team for a bulge bracket bank divestiture, three separate private equity investments, and a $100MM debt facility

  • Legal leader of company's up-C reorganization in preparation for public offering, optimizing tax structure

  • Core member of IPO leadership team managing company preparation, drafting, filing, governance, and regulatory aspects of $367MM offering

  • Helped achieve initial public valuation of ~$1.7 billion

  • Lead Director & Officer insurance roadshow meetings during IPO preparation

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Strategic legal and business executive with proven expertise in scaling companies from early-stage to public markets. Successful track record building and managing public company board structures, committees, and governance frameworks. Uniquely positioned to help high-growth companies navigate complex regulatory environments while enabling rather than hindering growth. Skilled at balancing innovation with sound risk management across front-, middle-, and back-office operations.

BOARD RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

ENFUSION INC. (NYSE: ENFN)

  • Managing Director, Corporate Development (10/2022 - 1/2023)

  • Executive Director, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary (1/2021 - 10/2022)

  • General Counsel, VP Operations & Corporate Secretary (12/2014 - 1/2021)

Joined as employee #29 and helped scale the organization from approximately 30 to 1,100+ employees, with demonstrable business impact:

  • During tenure supported revenue growth from <$25MM to $157.30MM (>500% increase)

  • Expanded client base from <50 to ~780 global clients (>1,400% increase)

  • Maintained industry-leading net retention rate of 113% through 2022

  • Expanded international presence to 11 global offices across Americas, EMEA, and APAC regions

  • Established operations in Hong Kong (2016), Singapore (2017), Ireland (2019), Brazil (2019), India (2020), Australia (2022), and China (2022).

Board & Governance Leadership:

  • Built and managed public company Board structure, committees, and governance frameworks from the ground up

  • Served as Corporate Secretary, supporting 16+ formal board and committee meetings annually

  • Created board training materials and comprehensive governance calendars integrating regulatory deadlines

  • Established and led Deal, Compliance, and Disclosure Committees

  • Served as key knowledge party for PCAOB audits

  • Led preparation and review of 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, S-8, Proxy Statements and ~24 SEC filings

  • Managed legal compliance across 14 regulatory jurisdictions

Technology & Compliance Leadership:

  • Established company's cybersecurity and data management programs in close partnership with CSO and CTO

  • Built comprehensive data privacy program addressing global regulatory requirements

  • Addressed evolving regulations impacting clients including hedge funds and institutional investors

  • Currently serving on two AI company advisory boards, providing governance and compliance guidance

Strategic Growth Leadership:

  • Played key role in go-to-market strategy for new products with decision-making authority within revenue organization

  • Created legal and compliance department, scaling to 7 attorneys and operations staff

  • Managed expansion to 7 new international locations while navigating complex regulatory requirements

  • Guided global business operations through COVID-19 pandemic while maintaining governance continuity

  • Helped build company with strong financial position: $268M cash and 0.12 debt ratio by Q4 2022

  • Maintained 76% gross margin in 2022 while scaling operations globally

CURRENT ADVISORY BOARD POSITIONS

[MORTGAGE ORIGINATION & AUTOMATION AI COMPANY]
Advisory Board Member providing strategic guidance on go-to-market strategy, scale, risk management, governance, compliance, and other strategic and tactical support.

[CALENDAR MANAGEMENT AI COMPANY]
Advisory Board Member focused on technology adoption, risk management, and scaling operations.

EARLY CAREER EXPERIENCE

Chicago Trading Company
Trading Assistant Intern (6/2014 - 10/2014)
Highly competitive quantitative internship providing deep exposure to financial markets and derivatives.

Sun Acquisitions
Dir. Business Development (9/2013 - 5/2014)
Associate Broker (5/2013 - 9/2013)
Contributed to firm's transition from business brokerage to lower-market investment banking services.

Sweetnam LLC
Consumer Fraud Plaintiff Class Action | Of Counsel (11/2012 - 5/2013)
Worked on consumer protection litigation and class action cases.

EDUCATION

Juris Doctor (J.D.) – Chicago-Kent College of Law - 2011
DePaul University - 2009
Licensed Attorney – IL & Federal Bar

VALUE PROPOSITION FOR BOARDS

  • Governance Expertise: Experience building and managing public company board structures from the ground up

  • Growth Navigation: Successfully scaled a company from 29 to 1,200+ employees across multiple international locations

  • Regulatory Insight: Deep understanding of complex regulatory environments with focus on enabling rather than hindering growth

  • Cross-Functional Leadership: Led initiatives across front-, middle-, and back-office operations

  • Risk Management: Proven track record balancing innovation with compliance in high-growth environments

  • Technology Focus: Specialized experience in fintech, regtech, and SaaS business models

  • Growth Driver: Contributed to >1,400% revenue growth while maintaining compliance

  • International Expertise: Established legal and governance frameworks across 11 global offices in diverse regulatory environments

  • Capital Markets Experience: Integral role in $367M0M IPO and achieving $1.7B market capitalization

  • Financial Discipline: Helped maintain 76% gross margins and 113% net retention rates during rapid scaling