Nikesh Arora joins Palo Alto Networks as CEO and chairman

Palo Alto Networks for security
US-based cybersecurity company Palo Alto Networks announced the appointment of former SoftBank Group president Nikesh Arora as chief executive officer and chairman.

Nikesh Arora, 50, succeeds Mark McLaughlin, who has led the company for nearly seven years and has played a major role in its business growth.

Mark McLaughlin will become the vice chairman of Palo Alto board. Palo Alto said revenue grew 31 percent to $567 million, product revenue rose 31 percent to $215 million, and billings grew 33 percent to $721 million in the fiscal third quarter.

Nikesh Arora, who was Google’s highest paid executive in 2012, joined SoftBank in September 2014 to take charge of its overseas operations.

Nikesh Arora stepped down from SoftBank in 2016 following differences between him and SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son over when he would replace Son as head of the group.

During his two years at the group, Nikesh Arora had used an extensive contact book to make new investments, including in Indian online marketplace Snapdeal and ride-hailing service Ola.

Nikesh Arora has been credited with making SoftBank more disciplined about investment exits.

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