Palo Alto Networks Announces Retirement of Nir Zuk, Founder and CTO

Palo Alto Networks Inc., a global cybersecurity active player, announced that Nir Zuk, its founder, CTO, and board member, has retired after more than 20 years of contributing to the company’s success. Lee Klarich, CPO, has been appointed to the company’s Board of Directors and has also assumed the role of CTO to continue the company’s leadership in AI and platformization and deliver the real-time, AI-driven security customers required to enable their digital and AI transformations.

Nir Zuk founded Palo Alto Networks in 2005, pioneering the next-generation firewall and revolutionizing the cybersecurity industry. After two decades of helping to build the company into the global cybersecurity leader it is today, he is stepping away to turn his attention to a new set of challenges and untapped ideas he is passionate about pursuing.

“I started Palo Alto Networks with a radical idea and the conviction to challenge a stagnant industry with a cybersecurity platform. Our vision has always been to lead from the front, and our recent intent to acquire CyberArk is a testament to that enduring ambition. With the most comprehensive security portfolio today, I am confident in Nikesh’s leadership and thrilled to pass the torch to Lee Klarich. He is a phenomenal technologist who will carry that competitive fire into our next chapter. This has been an incredible journey, and I leave with deep satisfaction, knowing the company we built together is stronger than ever,” said Nir Suk.

“I remember the very first day I met Nir. He was sharp, insightful, and welcoming, and we built a great partnership and friendship. Nir is a legend in cybersecurity, and his contributions are forever etched in our history books. We are immensely grateful for his contributions over the past 20 years in creating the world’s greatest cybersecurity company. And, in many ways, Lee has always been the architect turning that foundational vision into the platforms that define us today and will secure our future tomorrow,” added Nikesh Arora, chairman and CEO, Palo Alto Networks.

As Chief Product and Technology Officer, Klarich will be responsible for driving the company’s technology vision and leading the product and engineering organizations to deliver the industry’s most comprehensive, integrated, and AI-powered cybersecurity platforms. He joined Palo Alto Networks in 2006 and has been instrumental in driving the company’s product strategy and innovation as CPO. His appointment to the board ensures continued technical expertise at the highest levels of the company.

“On behalf of the board, I want to extend our deepest gratitude to Nir for his invaluable service and foundational contributions to the company and the board. We are also thrilled to welcome Lee to the board. As a leader who has been a part of Palo Alto Networks from the very early days to driving our vision for what is to come, Lee’s deep technical domain expertise and leadership in shaping our product organization make him the ideal successor to guide our technology vision forward,” concluded John Donovan, lead independent director to the board.