Palo Alto Networks' CTO Nir Zuk Retires

Nir Zuk, Palo Alto Networks‘ founder, chief technology officer and a member of the board of directors, has retired after more than two decades of shaping the cybersecurity firm. Zuk pioneered the next-generation firewall that helped redefine the cybersecurity industry, Palo Alto Networks said Monday.

After building the company into a global cybersecurity leader, he is stepping aside to pursue new challenges. “I started Palo Alto Networks with a radical idea and the conviction to challenge a stagnant industry with a cybersecurity platform,” Zuk said. He added that the company’s plan to acquire CyberArk reflects its enduring ambition, and expressed confidence in the leadership of CEO Nikesh Arora and successor Lee Klarich. “This has been an incredible journey, and I leave with deep satisfaction, knowing the company we built together is stronger than ever.”

Lee Klarich Steps Into Dual Role

The company appointed Chief Product Officer Lee Klarich as CTO and a member of the board. Klarich, who joined in 2006, has guided product strategy and innovation for nearly two decades. As chief product and technology officer, he is responsible for driving the company’s technology vision and leading product and engineering organizations to deliver comprehensive, integrated and artificial intelligence-powered cybersecurity platforms.

Palo Alto Networks provides comprehensive AI-powered security solutions across network, cloud, security operations and artificial intelligence, enhanced by the expertise and threat intelligence of Unit 42. The company said Klarich’s leadership will help continue its leadership in AI and platformization and deliver the real-time, AI-driven security customers require to enable their digital and AI transformations.

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