# Therese Tucker

> Therese Tucker is the American software engineer and founder of BlackLine. She redirected the company from wealth management software to accounting automation, led its cloud transition and 2016 Nasdaq listing, and served two periods as chief executive. After retiring from full-time executive employment in June 2026, she remains a BlackLine board member.

- **Role:** Founder and Board Member at BlackLine
- **Organizations:** BlackLine, SunGard Treasury Systems, SunGard Trading Systems, Hughes Aircraft, California Community Foundation (board, 2014-2024)
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** B.S. in Computer Science and Mathematics, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- **Known for:** Founded BlackLine in 2001 and led its development into a publicly traded accounting automation company., Designed BlackLine’s initial products and led the 2007 cloud transition., Led the October 28, 2016 Nasdaq listing.

## Career timeline

- **1983** — Graduated from the University of Illinois; began engineering work at Hughes Aircraft in Southern California.
- **1985** — Started independent programming for small businesses.
- **1997-2001** — Chief Technology Officer at SunGard Treasury Systems and SunGard Trading Systems.
- **2001** — Founded BlackLine, initially developing wealth management software.
- **2004** — A request from First National Bank of Nebraska redirected BlackLine toward account reconciliation.
- **2007** — Led BlackLine’s transition to cloud software.
- **2013** — Silver Lake Sumeru and ICONIQ Capital invested in BlackLine.
- **2014-2024** — Served on the California Community Foundation board.
- **2016-10-28** — Led BlackLine’s Nasdaq IPO under ticker BL.
- **2021-01** — Moved from CEO to executive chair.
- **2023-03** — Returned as co-CEO with Owen Ryan.
- **2025-10-01** — Transitioned from co-CEO into the executive Founder role.
- **2026-06-02** — Retired from full-time executive employment, remaining a director.

## Achievements

- Founded BlackLine in 2001 and led its development into a publicly traded accounting automation company.
- Designed BlackLine’s initial products and led the 2007 cloud transition.
- Led the October 28, 2016 Nasdaq listing.
- Named to Forbes’ America’s Top 50 Women in Tech in 2018.
- Recognized in the technology category of the 2014 Top Women of Influence in Los Angeles.

## Latest updates

- **2026-06** — Retirement from full-time executive employment took effect June 2; she remains a director.
- **2026-03** — BlackLine announced her planned retirement and reported ownership of approximately 8% of outstanding shares.
- **2025-10** — Moved from co-CEO to the executive Founder role; Owen Ryan continued as CEO.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/therese-tucker-661b747

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/therese-tucker
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-21