... for the implementation of sound, long-term tax policies
that promote the global competitiveness of
the U.S. technology industry.
... for the implementation of sound, long-term tax policies that promote the global competitiveness of the U.S. high technology industry.
Member Profile
Christian A. Howald
Vice President, Global Tax;
Blackhawk Network, Inc.
Contact
christian.howald@bhnetwork.com
Education
JD, University of Houston Law Center; MBA, University of Houston; BBA, Accounting, Harding University
Professional Organizations
State Bar of Texas - Tax Section
Background
Christian previously spent over 18 years in public accounting providing tax technical and income tax accounting services involving multiple disciplines and jurisdictions, including providing pre-acquisition tax services to both private equity and strategic buyers. He received his B.B.A. in Accounting from Harding University and both his J.D. and M.B.A. from the University of Houston. Christian is a licensed member of the State Bar of Texas and a Certified Public Accountant in California and Texas.
Blackhawk Network, Inc.
6220 Stoneridge Mall Road
Pleasanton, California 94588
Company Profile
Blackhawk Network is a leading prepaid payment network utilizing proprietary technology to offer a broad range of prepaid gift, telecom, and debit cards, in physical and electronic forms, as well as related prepaid products and payment services in the United States and more than 20 other countries. Our product offerings include gift cards; loyalty, incentive and reward products and services; prepaid telecom products; and prepaid financial services products, including general purpose reloadable (GPR) cards and our reload network, (collectively, “prepaid products”). We offer gift cards from leading consumer brands (known as “closed loop”), branded gift and incentive cards from leading payment network card associations such as American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa (known as “open loop”), and prepaid telecom products offered by prepaid wireless telecom carriers. We also distribute GPR cards and operate a proprietary reload network named Reloadit, which allows consumers to reload funds onto their previously purchased GPR cards. We distribute these prepaid products across multiple high-traffic channels such as grocery, convenience, specialty, and online retailers (referred to as “retail distribution partners”) in the Americas, Europe, Africa, Australia, and Asia. These prepaid products and related services are also provided to business clients for their loyalty, incentive, and reward programs. Our operating revenues consist of commissions and fees, program and other fees, marketing revenue, and product sales. Further information can be found on our website at blackhawknetwork.com.