Mr. Blake Arnold, CFA, joined Kenai as Chief Business Officer in 2026, bringing nearly two decades of experience in biopharmaceuticals and life sciences, spanning business development, corporate strategy, equity research, and venture capital. Most recently, Mr. Arnold served as Vice President of M&A Transactions at Novartis AG, where he led the execution of strategic acquisitions. Mr. Arnold also advanced through roles of increasing responsibility at Novartis Gene Therapies (formerly AveXis, Inc.), ultimately serving as Head of Portfolio Innovation, New Products, and Business Development & Licensing, where he drove the pipeline growth strategy for the Gene Therapies business.

Prior to joining Novartis, Mr. Arnold served in global business development and corporate venture capital roles at Baxter International, supporting deal origination, due diligence, and transaction execution. He began his career at Robert W. Baird & Co. as an equity research analyst covering the biotechnology sector.

Mr. Arnold holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.