Amit Yoran, chair and CEO of cybersecurity firm Tenable, dies unexpectedly after cancer battle
Amit Yoran, who ushered cybersecurity company Tenable into the public market as chief executive, died on Friday. He was 54.
Yoran's passing was confirmed by Tenable in a Saturday press release. While the company said his death was unexpected, Yoran went on medical leave early last month as he battled cancer.
Funeral details have not yet been announced, the company said on Saturday.
Yoran took the helm of Tenable in 2016, his latest leadership role in the cybersecurity field. He previously served as president of RSA Security from 2014 to 2016. Yoran founded and led NetWitness as CEO between 2006 and 2011 before it was acquired by RSA, according to his LinkedIn page.
His decadeslong career in cybersecurity also included government and nonprofit work. Yoran was National Cybersecurity Director for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from 2003 to 2004. He sat on the board of the Center for Internet Security since 2019.
Two years into Yoran's tenure, Tenable went public on the Nasdaq. At the time, the IPO was seen as a success story for cybersecurity companies on Wall Street.
Yoran called the company's focus on the vulnerabilities of businesses' technology as unique in the market, while also noting its successful shift to a subscription model. By 2018, Yoran said, more than half of Fortune 500 companies were Tenable customers.
"We've become one of the most trusted and beloved brands in cybersecurity," he told CNBC at the time of Tenable's IPO. "Only the best and highest-performing private companies have the opportunity to go public. And that gives us a spot on a much larger stage to be able to tell our story."
Tenable CFO Steve Vintz and Chief Operating Officer Mark Thurmond have acted as co-CEOs since Yoran went on medical leave in December. They will continue sharing the role while its board of directors looks for a permanent successor, the company said.
Yoran had expected his leave to last only a few months and said his condition was a "treatable situation," according to a note to employees published on his LinkedIn page. He had "complete trust" in Vintz and Thurmond to lead the company in his absence.
"We have much to do and there is no time to waste," Yoran wrote. "As I take a brief pause to prioritize my health, I will stay as connected as I can while giving myself the space to heal fully. I am deeply grateful for each of you, not only for the dedication you bring to your work but for the sense of community we've built together."
Yoran was also the chair of Tenable's board, a position that now will be held by Art Coviello, the company's lead independent director. In a statement, Coviello called Yoran an "extraordinary" leader, colleague and friend.
"His passion for cybersecurity, his strategic vision, and his ability to inspire those around him have shaped Tenable's culture and mission," Coviello said. "His legacy will continue to guide us as we move forward."
Amit Yoran, cybersecurity executive and entrepreneur, has died at 54
Amit Yoran, the CEO and chairman of cybersecurity firm Tenable Holdings, died Friday after a battle with cancer, according to a company announcement. He was 54.
“Amit was not only a visionary leader but also a guiding force who profoundly impacted our industry, our company, our culture, and our community,” said Bridgett Paradise, Tenable’s chief people and culture officer, in a message to employees on Saturday.
Yoran took a medical leave of absence on December 5, the company said. He served as the company’s CEO since 2016 and led the company when it went public in 2018.
Before joining Maryland-based Tenable, Yoran served as president of RSA Security, a computer and network security company, and founded NetWitness, a threat detection and response platform. In 1998, Yoran co-founded Virginia-based Riptech Inc., which used sensor networks to protect government and corporate computers from attacks.
In 2003, Yoran was named director of the newly created Homeland Security Department’s National Cyber Security Division. He resigned from the position after one year.
Yoran was often interviewed on cable news, where he would discuss cybersecurity and data collection. In March 2023, Yoran was interviewed on CNN about the US government possibly banning TikTok due to data collection concerns.
“His passion for cybersecurity, his strategic vision, and his ability to inspire those around him have shaped Tenable’s culture and mission. His legacy will continue to guide us as we move forward,” said Art Coviello, who will become chairman and is Tenable’s lead independent director.
During Yoran’s absence, Tenable Holdings’ board appointed CFO Steve Vintz and COO Mark Thurmond as co-CEOs. The company said Vintz and Thurmond will continue to lead the company while Tenable searches for a permanent CEO.
Cybersecurity firm Tenable's CEO Amit Yoran dies after battle with cancer
Jan 4 (Reuters) - Amit Yoran, the chairman and chief executive of cybersecurity firm Tenable Holdings (TENB.O) , opens new tab died on Friday following a battle with cancer, the company said on Saturday.
Yoran, 54, joined Tenable as CEO in 2016 and was credited with steering the company's growth, including its 2018 initial public offering.
The company said it would continue to operate under the leadership of Chief Financial Officer Steve Vintz and Chief Operating Officer Mark Thurmond, who were appointed as co-CEOs when Yoran took medical leave in December last year.
Yoran was also the chair of the company's board, a position that now will be held by Art Coviello, Tenable's lead independent director.
Yoran's career was marked by influential leadership roles in the cybersecurity industry.
Before joining Tenable, he served as president of Dell Technologies' (DELL.N) , opens new tab RSA cybersecurity unit and as the founding director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's now-retired United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT), an agency in protecting Americans from cyberattacks.
Columbia, Maryland-based Tenable competes with Crowdstrike (CRWD.O) , opens new tab, Qualys (QLYS.O) , opens new tab and Rapid7 (RPD.O) , opens new tab in selling software that businesses and governments use to monitor large computer networks for security vulnerabilities and anomalies that indicate cyber attacks.
Amit Yoran, cybersecurity executive and entrepreneur, has died at 54
Amit Yoran, the CEO and chairman of cybersecurity firm Tenable Holdings, died Friday after a battle with cancer, according to a company announcement. He was 54.
“Amit was not only a visionary leader but also a guiding force who profoundly impacted our industry, our company, our culture, and our community,” said Bridgett Paradise, Tenable’s chief people and culture officer, in a message to employees on Saturday.
Yoran took a medical leave of absence on December 5, the company said. He served as the company’s CEO since 2016 and led the company when it went public in 2018.
Before joining Maryland-based Tenable, Yoran served as president of RSA Security, a computer and network security company, and founded NetWitness, a threat detection and response platform. In 1998, Yoran co-founded Virginia-based Riptech Inc., which used sensor networks to protect government and corporate computers from attacks.
In 2003, Yoran was named director of the newly created Homeland Security Department’s National Cyber Security Division. He resigned from the position after one year.
Yoran was often interviewed on cable news, where he would discuss cybersecurity and data collection. In March 2023, Yoran was interviewed on CNN about the US government possibly banning TikTok due to data collection concerns.
“His passion for cybersecurity, his strategic vision, and his ability to inspire those around him have shaped Tenable’s culture and mission. His legacy will continue to guide us as we move forward,” said Art Coviello, who will become chairman and is Tenable’s lead independent director.
During Yoran’s absence, Tenable Holdings’ board appointed CFO Steve Vintz and COO Mark Thurmond as co-CEOs. The company said Vintz and Thurmond will continue to lead the company while Tenable searches for a permanent CEO.
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Cybersecurity firm Tenable's CEO Amit Yoran dies after battle with cancer
(Reuters) - Amit Yoran, the chairman and chief executive of cybersecurity firm Tenable Holdings died on Friday following a battle with cancer, the company said on Saturday.
Yoran, 54, joined Tenable as CEO in 2016 and was credited with steering the company's growth, including its 2018 initial public offering.
The company said it would continue to operate under the leadership of Chief Financial Officer Steve Vintz and Chief Operating Officer Mark Thurmond, who were appointed as co-CEOs when Yoran took medical leave in December last year.
Yoran was also the chair of the company's board, a position that now will be held by Art Coviello, Tenable's lead independent director.
Yoran's career was marked by influential leadership roles in the cybersecurity industry.
Before joining Tenable, he served as president of Dell Technologies' RSA cybersecurity unit and as the founding director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's now-retired United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT), an agency in protecting Americans from cyberattacks.
Columbia, Maryland-based Tenable competes with Crowdstrike, Qualys and Rapid7 in selling software that businesses and governments use to monitor large computer networks for security vulnerabilities and anomalies that indicate cyber attacks.
(Reporting by Surbhi Misra in Bengaluru; Editing by Sandra Maler)
