Blend's Ozgur Dogan Named CEO as Enterprise AI Adoption Accelerates
AI / Leadership & Executive Moves | 4 min read
Blend, a premier AI and data science solutions provider, has announced that co-founder Ozgur Dogan has been named Chief Executive Officer. The leadership transition positions the company for its next phase of growth at a moment when enterprises across industries are rapidly accelerating investment in AI and modern data platforms. Dogan has been central to building Blend's capabilities in AI, advanced analytics, and enterprise data transformation since the company's founding — and now steps into the CEO role with a clear mandate to deepen client impact, expand partnerships, and drive continued innovation.
A Co-Founder Who Built Blend's AI Engine From the Inside
Dogan joined Blend at its inception in 2016 — well before the current wave of AI adoption — and has held multiple leadership roles across the organisation as the firm expanded globally. Most recently, he served as President of the Americas and led the company's AI-powered solutions and global services organisation, bringing together data science, engineering, and consulting capabilities to help enterprise clients translate AI into measurable business impact.
Recognised by DataIQ as one of the most influential data and analytics practitioners in the US and a member of the WSJ Tech Council, Dogan brings a career built at the intersection of data, technology, and business strategy. Before co-founding Blend, he served as Chief Marketing Officer of Hepsiburada — one of Europe's fastest-growing e-commerce companies and a NASDAQ-listed business — where he had a front-row seat to how data shapes decisions and accelerates results in highly competitive environments. Earlier in his career, he led the Data Solutions Group at Merkle, where he developed large-scale analytics and optimisation solutions for global enterprises.
"We've established a reputation for scaling AI in meaningful ways for our customers, and we're seeing strong momentum as demand continues to accelerate. At Blend, we've built a world-class global team operating at the intersection of data science, engineering, and business strategy, delivering real, measurable outcomes. I'm excited about the value we can create for our customers — and we have a lot planned. In the coming months, you'll see Blend make meaningful moves: in our partnerships, our innovation, and the way we show up for clients at this critical moment in enterprise AI."
— Ozgur Dogan, CEO, Blend
Founders Remain Fully Committed — A Transition Built on Continuity
Former CEO and co-founder Patrick Hennessy and co-founder Tim Berry remain fully committed to Blend and will continue to work closely with Dogan and the leadership team on operational priorities while focusing on board-level management and growth. The transition is designed as a deliberate evolution of leadership — not a departure — with the founding team's continued involvement ensuring both strategic continuity and institutional knowledge remain embedded at the highest level.
"This is a major milestone for Blend, and one we mark with real pride. We have admired Oz for years, personally and professionally. Blend is fortunate to have exactly the kind of leader this moment calls for — a world-class AI practitioner who is equally driven by the people he leads and the customers he serves. In today's rapidly evolving AI landscape, we're confident he's the right leader to accelerate what we've built and deliver on the opportunity ahead."
— Patrick Hennessy, Co-Founder, Blend
The Moment — From AI Experimentation to Enterprise Deployment
The timing of the transition reflects the broader shift underway across enterprise technology. As organisations move beyond AI experimentation and into full-scale enterprise deployment, demand is surging for partners that can integrate data science, engineering, and consulting to deliver measurable business outcomes — not just proof-of-concept results. Blend's philosophy has always been that AI is not just about algorithms; it is about people, change management, talent, and a commitment to responsible AI that builds trust across organisations.
Blend has grown to more than 1,300 professionals across North America, Europe, India, and Latin America, working with Fortune 1000 and high-growth companies to deploy advanced analytics and AI solutions at enterprise scale. The company was recently recognised as a Leader in AIM Research's PeMa Quadrant: Top Generative AI Service Providers 2026 — a validation of its positioning as the enterprise AI deployment partner of choice as the market matures. For more information, visit blend360.com.
Key Takeaways
- • Blend, a premier AI and data science solutions provider with 1,300+ professionals across North America, Europe, India, and Latin America, has named co-founder Ozgur Dogan as Chief Executive Officer to lead the company's next phase of growth as enterprise AI adoption accelerates.
- • Dogan co-founded Blend in 2016 and most recently served as President of the Americas, leading the company's AI-powered solutions and global services organisation. He is recognised by DataIQ as one of the most influential data and analytics practitioners in the US and is a member of the WSJ Tech Council.
- • Prior to co-founding Blend, Dogan served as CMO of Hepsiburada (NASDAQ-listed; one of Europe's fastest-growing e-commerce companies) and led the Data Solutions Group at Merkle, developing large-scale analytics and optimisation solutions for global enterprises.
- • Co-founders Patrick Hennessy and Tim Berry remain fully committed to Blend, continuing to work with Dogan on operational priorities while focusing on board-level management — ensuring strategic continuity and institutional knowledge are preserved through the leadership transition.
- • Strategic context: as enterprises shift from AI experimentation to full-scale deployment, demand is growing for partners integrating data science, engineering, and consulting to deliver measurable outcomes. Blend was recently named a Leader in AIM Research's PeMa Quadrant: Top Generative AI Service Providers 2026, validating its position at the forefront of enterprise AI delivery.