Ken Xie

A cybersecurity expert and successful entrepreneur, Ken Xie founded and built three cybersecurity companies that have shaped the cybersecurity industry. Ken started his first network security company SIS in 1993, designing software firewalls while studying at Stanford University. In 1996, he realized the performance limitations of software firewalls running on PCs/servers, and as a result started NetScreen. As founder, president, and CEO, Ken led the company to develop the industry's first ASIC and dedicated hardware systems for high-performance firewalls and VPNs. NetScreen (NASDAQ: NSCN) was acquired by Juniper (NASDAQ: JNPR) for $4 billion.

In 2000, Ken founded Fortinet, which today is amongst the top three cyber security companies worldwide and is one of the fastest growing network security companies. Fortinet’s broad portfolio of solutions spans network, infrastructure, edge, cloud and IoT, serving approximately 70 per cent of the Fortune 100 as well as Governments around the world. In 2018, Fortinet reached US$2.15 billion in billings and was listed on the S&P500. The company employs more than 6,000 people in 79 countries.

Ken earned an M.S. degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University and B.S. and M.S. degrees in electronic engineering from Tsinghua University. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering. Ken also represents Fortinet as a member of the Board of Directors of the Cyber Threat Alliance and a founding member of the Center for Cybersecurity for the World Economic Forum.