NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--tZERO, a leader in financial innovation and liquidity for private companies, announced today the appointment of two new directors to its Board: Edwin Marcial, former Senior Vice President and founding Chief Technology Officer of Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE: ICE), and Michael Blaugrund, Chief Operating Officer of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Blaugrund’s appointment is in conjunction with a significant minority investment by ICE and follows the appointment of David Goone as tZERO’s Chief Executive Officer. Marcial and Blaugrund have capital markets expertise complementary to tZERO’s Board of Directors, positioning the company for further growth and innovation in the blockchain marketplace. With these changes, tZERO’s Board is now composed of six directors, which includes others: Matt Mosman, Chairman of tZERO’s Board of Directors and General Partner at Pelion Venture Partners, David Goone, Chief Executive Officer at tZERO, Chris Campbell, Chief Strategist at Kroll, and John Jacobs, former Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Nasdaq.
“I am delighted to welcome two new, highly talented senior business leaders to our Board, bringing decades of capital markets expertise," said Goone. “In terms of building businesses, with Edwin’s strong technology background and Michael’s in-depth knowledge in financial services, these new Board members will help shape tZERO’s long-term success.”
“I am thrilled to join tZERO’s Board of Directors as the company strives to democratize access to capital markets and establish more efficient, accessible, and transparent marketplaces through blockchain technology,” noted Marcial. “I believe there are significant opportunities to create value, and I look forward to working with the Board to strengthen tZERO's position and to bring my experience and expertise in leading technology teams, and architecting and developing software systems to the tZERO team.”
“tZERO is a pioneer in digital capital markets and its proprietary technology stack, experienced leaders, and regulatory focus position it well for future innovation,” shared Blaugrund. “I look forward to helping the company achieve its full potential as it continues to grow and scale its offerings.”
About Edwin Marcial
Marcial is the former founding Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President for ICE. He drove the innovation of ICE technology for eighteen years from a six-person startup to a $25B company. Under Marcial’s technical leadership, ICE had tremendous success, including a record IPO in 2005, the highest performing trading platform in the futures industry, and the acquisition of the New York Stock Exchange in 2013. Marcial left ICE in 2014 to pursue other interests.
Today, Marcial is the Chief Executive Officer of Thirteen Castles Digital, a software development firm that builds custom systems for early-stage companies. Marcial also advises and invests in several early-stage software companies, including SnapNurse, Loyal Health, BetterCloud, and Leaf Logistics.
Marcial is also the creator and host of techrides.io, a web-based video series where he tells the inspiring stories of business leaders while riding in an interesting car.
Marcial holds a B.A. in Computer Science from the University of Florida’s College of Engineering.
About Michael Blaugrund
Blaugrund is Chief Operating Officer of the New York Stock Exchange, a wholly owned subsidiary of ICE. He is responsible for the NYSE’s five equity and two options markets, as well as the Securities Industry Automation Corporation (SIAC).
Most recently, Blaugrund was Director of Business Development at Tower Research Capital, where he focused on expanding the firm’s global market access and developing strategic assets. Prior to that role, Blaugrund led U.S. equity product strategy at Nasdaq and held product management roles at Thomson Reuters.
Blaugrund graduated from Harvard University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
About tZERO
tZERO Group, Inc. (tZERO) and its broker-dealer subsidiaries provide an innovative liquidity platform for private companies and assets. We offer institutional-grade solutions for issuers looking to digitize their capital table through blockchain technology, and trade on a regulated alternative trading system. tZERO, through its broker-dealer subsidiaries, democratizes access to private assets by providing a simple, automated, and efficient trading venue to broker-dealers, institutions, and investors. tZERO is a portfolio company of Medici Ventures, L.P., a blockchain-focused fund. The general partner of that fund is an entity affiliated with Pelion Venture Partners. Overstock.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:OSTK) is a limited partner of Medici Ventures, L.P. and holds a direct minority interest in tZERO. For more information on tZERO, please visit https://www.tzero.com/.
tZERO is not a registered broker-dealer, funding portal, underwriter, investment bank, investment adviser or investment manager, and is not providing brokerage, investment banking or underwriting services, recommendations or investment advice to any person, and does not provide any brokerage services. tZERO takes no part in the negotiation or execution of secondary market transactions for the purchase or sale of securities and at no time has possession of investor funds or securities in connection with such transactions.
