WatchGuard raids SafeNet for safe bet CEO

Prakash Panjwani unveiled as new boss nearly a year after Joe Wang's sudden departure

The man credited with growing data security vendor SafeNet from a tiny acorn into a mighty oak has popped up as the new chief executive of WatchGuard.

Network security vendor WatchGuard had been without a permanent boss since the sudden departure of CEO Joe Wang last May but has finally moved to appoint Prakash Panjwani to fill the gap.

Panjwani joins from SafeNet, where he was credited with growing the firm from a “small start-up to one of the industry’s leading data security companies” during his 12-year stint there, latterly as CEO.

SafeNet was recently acquired by Gemalto, but before that shared an investor with WatchGuard in the form of Vector Capital.

Mike Kohlsdorf, who served as interim CEO for WatchGuard, claimed Panjwani would maintain the UTM vendor’s momentum following a “record year” of growth.

“His keen understanding of the security space, combined with his leadership expertise will help ensure WatchGuard continues to deliver powerful security solutions to organisations around the world,” he said.

Ian Kilpatrick, chairman of UK WatchGuard distributor Wick Hill, welcomed Panjwani’s arrival.

“WatchGuard are strongly on the up at the moment, both in sales and new products, and I think the appointment of Prakash is a great move. He’s got the drive and determination to accelerate their growth,” Kilpatrick said.