Former Cisco and Extreme Networks sales leader to drive market expansion and revenue growth
Calgary, Canada — Blackline Safety Corp. (TSX: BLN), a global leader in connected safety technology, today announced the appointment of Paul Semak as Vice President, North American Sales. With more than 25 years of sales leadership experience and a strong background in SaaS, cloud solutions, and enterprise technology, Semak will lead Blackline’s North American sales strategy, accelerating market expansion and growth.
Semak spent over five years as Senior Vice President of Americas Sales at Extreme Networks, managing a $750 million business and a 280+ person sales team. Prior to that, he spent 22 years at Cisco, where he held progressively senior sales leadership roles, including Vice President, Enterprise and Public Sector Sales. Most recently, as Chief Revenue Officer at Infostream Solutions, he led all customer-facing functions, specializing in cybersecurity, networking, and AI.
Recognized for building high-performing teams and exceeding revenue targets, Semak brings deep expertise in go-to-market strategy, channel partnerships, digital transformation, and AI-driven business growth. Semak holds an Electronics Engineering Technology diploma from Mohawk College and has completed executive leadership programs at Harvard University and the Niagara Institute.
“We are thrilled to welcome Paul to Blackline,” said Sean Stinson, President and Chief Growth Officer of Blackline Safety. “His extensive experience leading large-scale sales teams, deep expertise in connected technology, and strong track record of executing customer-focused growth strategies align perfectly with our vision. Paul’s leadership will be instrumental in driving sales performance, scaling the sales function, and strengthening Blackline’s presence across North America.”
“I am excited to join Blackline Safety at such a pivotal time,” said Semak. “The company’s innovations in connected safety are transforming how organizations protect their workforce. I look forward to working with our North American sales team to help more customers develop and enhance their connected safety programs with the most advanced technology available.”
In his new role, Semak will lead over 30 sales professionals across North America, a team that drove nearly $40 million in product revenue in FY 2024.
About Blackline Safety: Blackline Safety is a technology leader driving innovation in the industrial workforce through IoT (Internet of Things). With connected safety devices and predictive analytics, Blackline enables companies to drive towards zero safety incidents and improved operational performance. Blackline provides wearable devices, personal and area gas monitoring, cloud-connected software and data analytics to meet demanding safety challenges and enhance overall productivity for organizations with customers in more than 75 countries. Armed with cellular and satellite connectivity, Blackline provides a lifeline to tens of thousands of people, having reported over 265 billion data-points and initiated over eight million emergency alerts. For more information, visit BlacklineSafety.com and connect with us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn and Instagram.
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