Walter Scott CEO of GFI

Industry veteran and former CEO of Acronis Inc., Walter Scott has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of GFI, a provider of email and security software. The announcement was made by the company’s board of directors. Mr. Scott was chosen for his excellent leadership skills and track record helping companies experience rapid revenue growth and profitability.

As the CEO of Acronis Inc., a provider of storage management and disaster recovery software, in the space of three years he increased annual revenues from less than $20 million to approximately $120 million for 2008. Prior to joining Acronis, Mr. Scott was CEO of Imceda Software where he executed a combination of leadership and marketing strategies that resulted in a successful sale of the company to Quest Software.  Mr. Scott was also instrumental in Embarcadero’s successful IPO in 2000. He started his career with sales and marketing positions at BMC Software and Banyan Systems.

Paul Sallaberry, Chairman of the Board, said that the GFI board selected Mr. Scott based on his years of experience in the industry and his excellent track record leading complex organizations, in addition to his strong executive and personal qualities.

“We have conducted a comprehensive search of external candidates over the past year, and Walter has secured our confidence because of his strong execution skills, his proven ability to lead top performing teams, and his track record in driving shareholder value. Walter has extensive knowledge of the SMB market and his ability to manage and grow companies in this sphere is excellent,” Mr. Sallaberry said.

Mr. Sallaberry added: “Walter’s appointment opens a new chapter for GFI, wherein we are seeking to further strengthen our market share and our position as the leading email and security software provider for the small- and medium-sized business.”

"GFI is one of those companies that inspire confidence in the market and its customer base," Mr. Scott said. "There is a real need in the market to deliver high-quality products at excellent prices that address the needs of every small and medium sized business — be it anti-virus or vulnerability management.”

Mr. Scott holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and a Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of Maine. He is married to Christina and they have a son, Walter Scott IV. Mr. Scott’s appointment is effective immediately.