Executive Team
Brendan Blumer
Brendan was an early investor in blockchain and transitioned to full-time involvement in the space in 2016 when he met business partner Dan Larimer and they co-founded Block.one. Prior to this, Brendan founded okay.com, a collaborative data-sharing ecosystem for the Asia Pacific property market that has grown to be Hong Kong’s largest digital property agency. He has been building disruptive technology companies since 2001, when he started Gamecliff, a company that automated the valuation, purchase, and resale of in-game items in the world’s largest online video games.
Brendan Blumer
Brendan was an early investor in blockchain and transitioned to full-time involvement in the space in 2016 when he met business partner Dan Larimer and they co-founded Block.one. Prior to this, Brendan founded okay.com, a collaborative data-sharing ecosystem for the Asia Pacific property market that has grown to be Hong Kong’s largest digital property agency. He has been building disruptive technology companies since 2001, when he started Gamecliff, a company that automated the valuation, purchase, and resale of in-game items in the world’s largest online video games.
Rob Jesudason
Rob is a member of Block.one’s Board of Directors and is responsible for group global operations. Prior to joining Block.one, he worked at Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), a global top-12 bank by market capitalization (A$125 billion) for six and a half years, most recently as its Chief Financial Officer. Before CBA, Jesudason worked at Credit Suisse as Head of Global Emerging Markets for its Financial Institutions Group. Earlier in his career, he held positions at JPMorgan, Barclays, GE Capital and McKinsey & Company.
Rob Jesudason
Rob is a member of Block.one’s Board of Directors and is responsible for group global operations. Prior to joining Block.one, he worked at Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), a global top-12 bank by market capitalization (A$125 billion) for six and a half years, most recently as its Chief Financial Officer. Before CBA, Jesudason worked at Credit Suisse as Head of Global Emerging Markets for its Financial Institutions Group. Earlier in his career, he held positions at JPMorgan, Barclays, GE Capital and McKinsey & Company.
Daniel Larimer
Dan specializes in software creation and development and has founded several successful companies that focus on innovative technology, ranging from virtual reality simulators to unmanned vehicle control systems to several second-generation blockchain companies – most notably BitShares, Steemit, and Block.one. He is the inventor of the widely adopted Delegated Proof of Stake (DPOS) and Decentralized Autonomous Corporation (DAC) concepts. Dan has worked in blockchain since 2009 and is considered an industry pioneer. He is a graduate of Virginia Tech’s Department of Computer Science, and serves as a guest lecturer and curriculum advisor to the university.
Daniel Larimer
Dan specializes in software creation and development and has founded several successful companies that focus on innovative technology, ranging from virtual reality simulators to unmanned vehicle control systems to several second-generation blockchain companies – most notably BitShares, Steemit, and Block.one. He is the inventor of the widely adopted Delegated Proof of Stake (DPOS) and Decentralized Autonomous Corporation (DAC) concepts. Dan has worked in blockchain since 2009 and is considered an industry pioneer. He is a graduate of Virginia Tech’s Department of Computer Science, and serves as a guest lecturer and curriculum advisor to the university.
Andrew Bliss
Andrew is a financial professional, investor and entrepreneur and has served as the Chief Financial Officer of Block.one since its inception. Prior to joining Block.one, Andrew held several financial and accounting positions with global avionics and technology multinational Rockwell Collins, where he worked for just under a decade. Andrew holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and an MBA from the University of Iowa.
Andrew Bliss
Andrew is a financial professional, investor and entrepreneur and has served as the Chief Financial Officer of Block.one since its inception. Prior to joining Block.one, Andrew held several financial and accounting positions with global avionics and technology multinational Rockwell Collins, where he worked for just under a decade. Andrew holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and an MBA from the University of Iowa.
Michael Alexander
Mike is responsible for managing both direct venture investments and EOS VC partnerships, with a focus on sourcing and investing in projects developing on the EOSIO ecosystem. With more than 25 years of experience in Asia capital markets, Mike is a prominent figure in the financial services in the region. Prior to Block.one, he served as the CEO of Jefferies Group Asia, where he worked for just under eight years. Before joining Jefferies, he was Group Head of Sales and Sales Trading at CLSA Hong Kong, Director of Asian Proprietary Trading at Deutsche Bank Hong Kong, and Head of Proprietary Trading at JPMorgan Hong Kong and Ord Minnett.
Michael Alexander
Mike is responsible for managing both direct venture investments and EOS VC partnerships, with a focus on sourcing and investing in projects developing on the EOSIO ecosystem. With more than 25 years of experience in Asia capital markets, Mike is a prominent figure in the financial services in the region. Prior to Block.one, he served as the CEO of Jefferies Group Asia, where he worked for just under eight years. Before joining Jefferies, he was Group Head of Sales and Sales Trading at CLSA Hong Kong, Director of Asian Proprietary Trading at Deutsche Bank Hong Kong, and Head of Proprietary Trading at JPMorgan Hong Kong and Ord Minnett.
Kokuei (Guo) Yuan
Guo is responsible for overseeing Block.one’s financial and management operations. He has more than 20 years of experience as an investment professional and business manager, having previously worked as the president of ii5 Global and as an investment banker at CLSA. Guo is also involved in technology start-ups in both Hong Kong and India, among other business ventures in Asia.
Kokuei (Guo) Yuan
Guo is responsible for overseeing Block.one’s financial and management operations. He has more than 20 years of experience as an investment professional and business manager, having previously worked as the president of ii5 Global and as an investment banker at CLSA. Guo is also involved in technology start-ups in both Hong Kong and India, among other business ventures in Asia.
James Mendes
Prior to joining Block.one, James was Managing Director Human Resources at Citibank where he was responsible for driving talent related initiatives and leading the transformation of the function across the Asia-Pacific region and EMEA consumer business. Over the course of his career, James has worked in Europe, Asia and Africa, and has advised and partnered with several of the world’s top brands. Prior to Citibank, he was Managing Director, Asia, at Korn Ferry. He also was a member of the Capital Consulting global board of directors and served as Managing Director, Asia, for Alexander Mann Solutions.
James Mendes
Prior to joining Block.one, James was Managing Director Human Resources at Citibank where he was responsible for driving talent related initiatives and leading the transformation of the function across the Asia-Pacific region and EMEA consumer business. Over the course of his career, James has worked in Europe, Asia and Africa, and has advised and partnered with several of the world’s top brands. Prior to Citibank, he was Managing Director, Asia, at Korn Ferry. He also was a member of the Capital Consulting global board of directors and served as Managing Director, Asia, for Alexander Mann Solutions.
Sheel Kohli
Sheel brings 18 years of marketing and communications leadership experience to Block.one. Prior to joining, he worked as a managing director at Credit Suisse for 13 years, and was responsible for all of the institution’s corporate communications across the Asia-Pacific region, covering investment banking, private banking and asset management. He was also heavily involved in the bank’s flagship annual spring Asian Investment Conference. Prior to Credit Suisse, Kohli led corporate communications for Asia-Pacific at ING for five years and also worked as a Europe-based business correspondent for the South China Morning Post for just under a decade.
Sheel Kohli
Sheel brings 18 years of marketing and communications leadership experience to Block.one. Prior to joining, he worked as a managing director at Credit Suisse for 13 years, and was responsible for all of the institution’s corporate communications across the Asia-Pacific region, covering investment banking, private banking and asset management. He was also heavily involved in the bank’s flagship annual spring Asian Investment Conference. Prior to Credit Suisse, Kohli led corporate communications for Asia-Pacific at ING for five years and also worked as a Europe-based business correspondent for the South China Morning Post for just under a decade.