Ford Blakely is the founder, SVP & GM of Medallia Zingle, acquired by Medallia in 2019. (NYSE: MDLA)

As a frustrated consumer with an entrepreneurial spirit, Ford Blakely worked to find a way to make it easier for customers to interact with companies and get their needs met in more personalized ways. As a result, Zingle was born in 2009 as the first two-way, business-to-customer messaging platform. Ford was able order his coffee via mobile phone, and busy people across the US joined him in skipping the waiting line.

Today, the team at Medallia Zingle empowers businesses around the world to engage, support, and respond to their customers in meaningful and impactful ways. The Medallia Zingle technology platform combines mobile messaging and workflow automation with artificial intelligence, which allows brands to deliver exceptional customer experiences in real time. Leading brands across all industries, including hospitality, travel, restaurants and retail use Medallia Zingle to increase revenue, improve operations, and stay connected to their customers.

Mr. Blakely has spent more than 20 years involved in startups, finance and various entrepreneurial projects. He is a Certified Public Accountant who earned his Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and Finance from Furman University in 1997, before attending the University of Tennessee to earn a Masters in Accountancy one year later.

Mr. Blakely started his financial career at Arthur Andersen and later moved on to investment banking at RBC Capital Market, where he specialized in telecommunication start-ups and video technology companies at all stages. He then worked at LECG for six years, where he provided financial analysis and consultation services for businesses and law firms.

At the helm of Medallia Zingle, Mr. Blakely works with Medallia CEO Leslie Stretch, and a global team, to provide much needed, contactless communications solutions for enterprise and mid-market companies. He continues his mission to make the experience of being a customer effortless.