McAfee Names George Kurtz as Executive VP, Chief Technology Officer
IT News Online Staff
2009-10-08
McAfee Inc. has named George Kurtz as executive vice president (EVP) and worldwide chief technology officer (CTO). Kurtz, a respected executive and industry visionary, will be responsible for creating and leading McAfee's "Office of the CTO" and helping drive thought leadership and product innovation.
Kurtz and his team will have both external and internal responsibilities. External responsibilities will include a focus on activities, such as keynotes, media presentations, industry associations and thought leadership with key customers, partners and worldwide government interfaces. It will also include helping with mergers and acquisitions and business development activities.
Internally, Kurtz and the "Office of the CTO" will help drive innovation throughout McAfee by identifying market trends, along with customer feedback, and driving it back through the product development cycle. In this capacity, Kurtz will work closely with McAfee's EVP of Product Operations, Bryan Barney, and other senior leaders to ensure McAfee products meet the ever changing and dynamic requirements of its customers.
Kurtz, who delivered dramatic results over the past two years with McAfee's Risk and Compliance business unit, will also continue with his role of general manager of this business unit until his replacement is found. He will continue to report to Dave DeWalt, president and chief executive officer, McAfee.
"In George, I have found both a technology visionary and a results-oriented leader with a unique combination of business acumen and security expertise," said DeWalt. "While at McAfee, George has helped grow the Risk and Compliance business unit by 60 percent over the last fiscal year, and has helped position the company for rapid growth as one of the premier pure-play security solutions providers in the industry."
"Given his entrepreneurial background and international experience, he is the perfect candidate to help drive innovation throughout our organization," added DeWalt.
The "Office of the CTO" will be built with both regional and business unit CTOs from around the world, including a leader for the Americas, EMEA and Asia Pacific. By interfacing with our key customers and partners, the regional CTOs will be instrumental in advancing McAfee's understanding of these markets and driving products that meet their unique local country/government requirements.
The business units CTOs include leaders from the Data Protection, Network Security, System Security, Risk and Compliance, Security-as-a-Service (SaaS) and McAfee Avert Labs business units, who are focused on crafting the long term strategy of core product lines and commercializing emerging technologies developed by McAfee's research organization.
"I am excited to play such a pivotal role on the executive management team," said Kurtz. "McAfee has a rich and powerful heritage of innovation that I will continue to foster. As always, I look forward to helping customers solve complex security problems and solidifying our position as the strategic global leader in digital security."
Prior to joining McAfee via the Foundstone acquisition in 2004, George served as the CEO of Foundstone. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Seton Hall University and several industry designations, including Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Kurtz is also the co-author of the best selling security book, Hacking Exposed: Network Security Secrets & Solutions.
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