Cintrifuse has a new CEO.
On Aug. 23, the economic development entity announced that Pete Blackshaw, formerly of Nestlé, will take over for Wendy Lea, who called time on her tenure earlier this year. He will formally step into the role on Nov. 1.
While Blackshaw is currently based out of Switzerland for his most recent role of vice president of digital innovation and service models at Nestle, he has considerable history within the Queen City; he spent his early years as a Procter & Gamble executive, working on brands such as Bounty, and he was also on the first digital marketing team at Procter & Gamble.
“Pete was among the very early pioneers who created new marketing and advertising models while he was at P&G, allowing our brands to engage consumers and set new industry standards,” David Taylor, P&G’s chairman, president and CEO.
After his work with P&G, Blackshaw founded PlanetFeedback in the early 2000s. It was a Cincy-based startup that offered an "internet portal centered on consumer feedback," one that eventually joined forces with media monitoring and analysis organization Intelliseek. Nielsen would go on to purchase both companies.
Thanks to his experience working in the area's startup ecosystem, Blackshaw said he believes Cincinnati is rife with potential.
“Greater Cincinnati has everything it takes to be the No. 1 startup hub in the Midwest,” Blackshaw said in a release. “A vibrant and historic tech district, big companies eager to partner with small ones, great universities and a cost structure that keeps burn-rates crazy low. I believed this when I launched my first startup here and am more convinced than ever today. I’m thrilled to come back."
He added that the unique relationship between organizations of all sizes sets Cincinnati apart.
“There’s a critical, largely untapped synergy between startups and large companies,” Blackshaw continued. “I’ve spent the last seven years obsessing about how to ignite value from those relationships — on both ends — and I can imagine no better place to take this to the next level than Cincinnati.”
Many prominent Cincinnati business leaders believe that Blackshaw is the perfect candidate to continue the growth at Cintrifuse because of his dual perspective.
“Pete brings the perfect balance that we need to accelerate momentum toward our vision of making Greater Cincinnati one of the top startup hubs in the nation,” said Bob Gilbreath, CEO of Ahalogy, Cintrifuse board member and former P&G colleague of Blackshaw. “He has startup AND Fortune 500 experience, local roots AND global perspective, clear vision AND a passion for co-creating."
Lea also believes Blackshaw is the right person for the job.
“Pete will do a fantastic job and not miss a beat,” she added. “His knowledge of the region and the initiative he’s already displayed in the space will bring a new kind of energy to Cintrifuse and our efforts to make Greater Cincinnati the premier destination for startups and innovation in the Midwest. The leadership transition is going to be seamless. I brought the #Giddyup, Pete brings the #andGO!”
