{"id":63811,"date":"2016-07-29T09:29:15","date_gmt":"2016-07-29T16:29:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.backblaze.com\/blog\/?p=63811"},"modified":"2021-08-13T03:00:22","modified_gmt":"2021-08-13T10:00:22","slug":"vp-marketing-ahin-thomas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.backblaze.com\/blog\/vp-marketing-ahin-thomas\/","title":{"rendered":"VP of Marketing, Ahin Thomas"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ahin\"<\/p>\n

A couple months ago, we opened a role for a VP of Marketing<\/a>, which I said at the time was “both exhilarating and frightening.” Frightening because I “played the role since the inception of the company, it would be our first non-founder executive hire, I really want to make sure that we hire that magical person who would be perfect for this role\u2014and I know how hard that can be.”<\/p>\n

We posted the position on our blog, promoted it on various sites, and canvassed our friends and colleagues for suggestions. Over 50 great people applied, I interviewed 17, and brought in 8 to meet the broader team. Today I’ve moved to the “exhilarated” state as we have made an offer and hired Ahin <\/a>Thomas.<\/p>\n

He brings a great blend of consumer and business marketing, is deep on digital marketing, started and ran a company, and shares our values and culture.<\/p>\n

Get to know him a bit more, below.<\/p>\n

What is your Backblaze title?<\/b>
\nVice President, Marketing.<\/p>\n

Where are you originally from?<\/b>
\nThe Bay Area! I grew up in Saratoga, then Woodside, and I’m currently living in San Francisco.<\/p>\n

What attracted you to Backblaze?<\/b>
\nReading through the blog and getting the sense of the team here. There\u2019s no shortage of places that talk about culture, but finding one that lives it is special.<\/p>\n

What do you expect to learn while being at Backblaze?<\/b>
\nTactically, I\u2019ve already learned more about data storage infrastructure then I would have ever thought! More broadly though, it\u2019s working as part of a high performing team on challenges that not that many people want to touch\u2026and doing it profitably\u2026while swimming in a pond with some of the biggest fish imaginable. We\u2019re outnumbered, outgunned, and perhaps out of our minds.<\/p>\n

Where else have you worked?<\/b>
\nCouple bartending gigs, songwriter\u2026 Oh! And hand model (true story). Most recent stints were at Sears Holdings (Dir of eComm), Vintners\u2019 Alliance (Co-Founder\/CEO), and Symphony Commerce (Head of Marketing).<\/p>\n

Where did you go to school?<\/b>
\nOrmondale Elementary, Corte Madera Middle School, Sacred Heart Prep, Georgetown University, The Wharton School of Business.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s your dream job?<\/b>
\nShooting guard for the Golden State Warriors.<\/p>\n

Favorite place you\u2019ve traveled?<\/b>
\nMendoza, Argentina. Was a couple more glasses of Malbec away from not coming back home.<\/p>\n

Favorite hobby?<\/b>
\nCooking. My wife would say \u201cacquiring cooking accessories.\u201d I would say my sous vide-ing skills are beyond reproach.<\/p>\n

Of what achievement are you most proud?<\/b>
\nFairly consistent happiness.<\/p>\n

There was also the time when I put my pants on both legs at the same time (a sorta jumping motion). Took about 15 weeks\u2026but I was finally around when someone said, \u201cWell, we all put our pants on one leg at a time.\u201d No, no we do not.<\/p>\n

“Star Trek” or “Star Wars”?<\/b>
\n“Star Wars”\u2026 Although I have been questioning it.<\/p>\n

Coke or Pepsi?<\/b>
\nCoke.<\/p>\n

Favorite food?<\/b>
\nSuper carne asada burrito, no rice.<\/p>\n

Why do you like certain things?<\/b>
\nI find meaning in the process\u2014engaging in a story, enjoying a song, or sharing a meal.<\/p>\n

Anything else you\u2019d like you\u2019d like to tell us?<\/b>
\nI love being wrong (because if you know you\u2019re wrong then there\u2019s a high likelihood you\u2019ve figured out what\u2019s right). I\u2019m a terrible but enthusiastic golfer, passable squash player, and watch more professional wrestling than should probably be shared in this (or any other) forum.<\/p>\n

Welcome to the team, Ahin!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A couple months ago, we opened a role for a VP of Marketing, which I said at the time was “both exhilarating and frightening.” Frightening because I “played the role since the inception of the company, it would be our first non-founder executive hire, I really want to make sure that we hire that magical… Continue reading VP of Marketing, Ahin Thomas<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":63831,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[131],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-63811","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-backblaze-bits","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nVP of Marketing, Ahin Thomas<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A couple months ago, we opened a role for a VP of Marketing, which I said at the time was "both exhilarating and frightening." 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