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Having started his career as a computer security practitioner, developing and standing up a computer security capability for a $700M enterprise, he migrated to the security software vendor side in the early days of the commercial Internet when it became clear computer security solutions were required. Today he is a branded computer security industry guru and internationally recognized expert on cyber-crime and cyber-warfare, well regarded in the broad security community, and articulate about the threat business.

Software industry leadership with responsibility over development, quality assurance and testing, localization and international product engineering, sustained engineering, SDLC and standards, and technical operations teams.

Financial acumen with experience in three publicly held companies (corporate officer at NASDQ:SYMC) including frequent exposure to analysts, investment bankers and other Wall Street intermediaries. Featured presenter at numerous investor and investment banking conferences. Keynote speaker at industry trade shows (including the RSA Security Conference) and company user events (such as CA World). Typically the primary executive spokesperson and business emissary to the field (global mandate) on security issues, solutions, strategies and vision. Frequently quoted or featured in publications, media outlets, and television and radio programs. Authored several articles and chapters in the cyber security domain.

Active in industry and government boards (sample list includes): Served on the Board of the Cyber Security Industry Alliance; Co-chaired a National Cyber Security Partnership Task Force of Security Across the Software Development Life Cycle; U.S. Delegate (at the invitation of DoJ) to the G-8 on High-Tech Crime; Conceived and organized the Java Security Alliance, a security industry consortium, that later evolved into the Common Content Inspection API security industry standards group.

Expert has been an advisor to C-level execs, boards of directors, VCs and PE firms on value-creation activities including new markets, acquisition and divestiture strategy, global sourcing of labor, major technology decisions, and eco-system development. He is a proven GM offering a unique point of view at the intersection of technology, strategy, global markets and finance and a successful high tech executive who came up through the technical and product marketing ranks, provides the big-picture and long-view.

He has had responsibility for a $150M global P&L (security software industry) where fiscal year revenue and units-shipped targets were exceeded while operating budget was delivered 5% below forecast. He is deft but firm around strategic choices and directions available to the company and is considered an innovator and puzzle-maker in the computer security industry.

Stature externally with both the financial markets and industry pundits to take a software company public in an IPO or guide it through a successful acquisition. Deft but firm around strategic choices and directions available to the company. Considered an visionary, innovator and puzzle-maker in the industry.

Expert is well-versed in the art of cross-border software development and international sales and marketing with global leadership and operational experience both inside and outside the U.S. He provides clear direction on metrics and controls developed from experience going through the pre-IPO process, leading an attempted management buy-out, and having sat in the acquirer chair and offers M&A leadership through acquisitions totaling nearly $2B, including cleaning-up and turning around two poorly-managed integrations and shutting down several unaligned product lines. On-the-ground leadership developed through executive roles at three public multinational corporations and one private high-tech startup.

Fluent in the art of communication, he has keynoted at major industry conferences, investor conferences, sales team “ra-ra” events, and customer conferences; authored articles and chapters; engaged with analysts and media; and is a proven rainmaker.

Sourced, ran diligence, developed investment thesis, and manage investments in cybersecurity and enterprise infrastructure startup and growth-stage companies. Found great companies; identified exceptional entrepreneurs and management teams; developed, justified and executed on investment thesis; helped portfolio companies grow and exit when appropriate. In addition, mentored entrepreneurs and educated general and limited partners.

Was retained to develop a strategy whereby [global semiconductor company] could influence emerging enterprise mobile security adoption patterns. The goal of the strategy was to drive product design and engineering focused on the enterprise mobile device security in order to motivate enterprise IT managers to adopt a strong bias or preference for [global semiconductor company] based Android devices over competing platforms. A set of strategic assets and priorities were identified based on external input and research. Accelerated [global enterprise software company] security business unit growth increasing billings 500% (to over $500M) by delivering software and services that enable organizations to secure, manage and govern their IT environments. Maintained the company’s technical lead in world-class information security software by shaping the strategic direction of the business, assessing and identifying new areas for organic and inorganic growth, and developing a rich partner eco-system.Was retained to evaluate an investment in [cyber security startup], a developer of enterprise personal firewalls and host intrusion prevention technology. A full technical due diligence resulted in a favorable assessment of the end-point security technology, management team, and market opportunity. Although he recommended investing, both firms passed.[cyber security startup] was sold to [global cyber security technology company] for an estimated $175M (nearly 9x TTM revenue estimates), handsomely rewarding the venture investors.Was retained to evaluate [startup company], a software company focused on integrating Bluetooth with other wireless technologies. This “diamond-in-the-rough” project was a management turn-around and re-positioning. The strategy conceived and set in motion resulted in a new investment round, a re-launch as [newco startup] with a focus on end-point security, and the acquisition of the company by [global network technology company] for an estimated $30M (about 6x TTM revenue).Was retained by [VC firm] to help evaluate an investment opportunity of an early-stage technology company focused on the emerging network intrusion prevention market. He has remained a trusted adviser to the company board, recommending a successful strategy whereby the company extended its core intrusion prevention service by embracing both network admissions control (NAC) and granular user policy enforcement so as to bring together device and user authentication and authorization.Was retained by [PE firm] to lead an investment thesis review of a privately-held, open-source web intelligence company with $25M in annual turnover. A full technical due diligence resulted in a number of flags and guidance to invest only if specific issues were resolved. As a result of the assessment, the deal was not consummated.Was retained by [Fortune 200] firm to develop a strategy for winning in the managed security services space. Strategy included primary market research, evaluation of existing solution providers, and development of a prioritized acquisition target list. Although the findings were accepted and supported by executive management, internal leadership "shake-up" derailed execution of the strategy.