Executives/System1 CEO
Michael Blend, CEO of System1

Who is the CEO of System1 in 2026?

Michael Blend is the Chief Executive Officer of System1. Michael has held the CEO seat since 2013, and was previously VP Corporate Development at Jawbone.

Updated September 24, 2026
Time in seat
13 years
CEO since 2013
Career span
31 years
First recorded role January 1995
Founded
2013
Co-founder of System1
Summary
  • Michael Blend co-founded System1 in September 2013 and has led it as CEO ever since.
  • Alongside System1, Michael Blend serves as Adjunct Professor at UCLA Samueli Computer Science & USC Marshall since January 2016.
  • Michael Blend sits on the board of Stephenson Global Pancreatic Cancer Research Institute.

Current company

System1

System1 is a marketing and brand consultancy.

advertisingFounded 2013NYSE: SST

Source: Wikipedia

Career and education

Michael Blend has been CEO of System1 since 2013. Before System1, Michael was VP Corporate Development at Jawbone from January 2001 until March 2003.

Career

  1. System12013 to present
    • CEO, Chairman & Co-Founder
  2. Stephenson Global Pancreatic Cancer Research Institute2024 to present
    • Director
  3. UCLA Samueli Computer Science & USC Marshall2016 to present
    • Adjunct Professor
  4. Wellful2021 to 2025
    • Director & Investor
  5. Total Security Limited2016 to 2021
    • Director & Investor
  6. Data Axle2017 to 2019
    • Director & Investor
  7. Stuff Media (acquired by iHeartMedia)2016 to 2018
    • Chairman & Co-founder
  8. Court Square Capital Partners2013 to 2018
    • Executive Advisor
  9. Dynata2015 to 2017
    • Director & Investor
  10. JDI Backup (acquired by NASDAQ: EIGI)2011 to 2014
    • Director & Investor
  11. Demand Media (NYSE: DMD)2006 to 2013
    • President & COO
  12. Hotkeys (acquired by NYSE: DMD)2001 to 2006
    • Founder
  13. Jawbone2001 to 2003
    • VP Corporate Development
  14. Wedding Channel (acquired by NASDAQ: KNOT)1999 to 2001
    • VP Corporate Development
  15. Darwin Keyboards1995 to 1998
    • Co-Founder

Sources: LinkedIn profile

Education

Duke University, AB, Mathematics, PhilosophyUniversity of Chicago, J.D., lawSource

Decision makers by function

9 decision makers at System1 in Unify, vice president level and above. Choose a function to see who leads it.

Decision maker preview

Top decision makers at System1

Vice president level and above, most senior first
Becky CarlsonSenior Vice President People Team · USA@system1.com
Josh FishmanVP, Business Development · USA@system1.com
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Leadership team at System1

Michael Blend leads a leadership team of 8 published executives.

Most senior 5 of 8

NameTitleIn seat since
Michael BlendChief Executive Officer2013
Chuck UrsiniPresidentNot stated
Tridivesh KidambiChief Financial OfficerNot stated
Daniel WeinrotGeneral CounselNot stated
Chris TestaChief Technology OfficerNot stated

Sources: System1 who we are page

Frequently asked questions

Who is the CEO of System1?

Michael Blend is the Chief Executive Officer of System1. Michael has held the CEO seat since 2013, and was previously VP Corporate Development at Jawbone.

When did Michael Blend become CEO of System1?

Michael Blend has been CEO of System1 since 2013, according to LinkedIn profile.

What did Michael Blend do before System1?

Michael Blend was VP Corporate Development at Jawbone from January 2001 until March 2003, according to LinkedIn profile.

How long has Michael Blend been CEO of System1?

Michael Blend has been CEO of System1 for 13 years, since 2013.

Who else leads System1?

Chuck Ursini (President), Tridivesh Kidambi (Chief Financial Officer), Daniel Weinrot (General Counsel), Chris Testa (Chief Technology Officer), and 3 more. Source: System1 who we are page.

Reach System1's decision makers

9 leaders at vice president level and above, with verified work emails and phone numbers in Unify.

Methodology

The seat holder is identified in Unify's professional profile dataset, then confirmed against the company's published leadership page, its SEC filings, and Wikipedia before publication. Career and education rows carry the public document they were taken from. Leadership team membership follows the company's own leadership page; in-seat dates come from filings where available and otherwise from the profile record. Company figures are read from the Unify headcount page for the same company and are profile coverage measures, never company-reported workforce totals. The employee preview lists vice president and senior vice president level profiles by department. No personal contact details are published.

Identity confirmed against Wikipedia, System1. Last verified: September 24, 2026.