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Gary Steele
Burlingame, California,United States
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Find Gary Steele's PhoneWho Is Gary Steele?
Gary Steele is a highly respected technology executive and business leader with extensive experience in the enterprise software, SaaS, and cybersecurity industries. He currently serves as the President and CEO of Splunk, a leading data platform for security and observability. Before joining Splunk in 2022, Steele was the founding CEO of Proofpoint, a prominent cybersecurity and compliance company. Over his 20-year tenure, he successfully scaled Proofpoint from an early-stage startup to a publicly traded, multi-billion dollar market leader, culminating in its $12.3 billion acquisition by Thoma Bravo. Known for his deep operational expertise and customer-centric approach, Steele has a proven track record of driving innovation, navigating market transitions, and building high-growth, durable businesses.
How Did Gary Steele's Career Path Shape Their Journey?
Gary Steele's work history includes a series of influential roles in various companies. Here is a detailed list of his professional journey:
What Are Gary Steele's Key Achievements?
Leading Splunk through $28 Billion Acquisition by Cisco
In a landmark deal for the tech industry, Steele successfully steered Splunk through its acquisition by Cisco for approximately $28 billion, which closed in March 2024. The acquisition is one of the largest ever in enterprise software, positioning the combined entity as a leader in AI-powered security and observability.
Transforming Proofpoint into a Cybersecurity Powerhouse
As the founding CEO from 2002 to 2022, Steele grew Proofpoint from the ground up, leading its successful IPO in 2012 and establishing it as a dominant force in email security and information protection, serving a majority of the Fortune 1000.
Orchestrating Proofpoint's $12.3 Billion Private Sale
He led the strategic process that resulted in Proofpoint being acquired by private equity firm Thoma Bravo in 2021 for $12.3 billion. This transaction was a testament to the immense value and market leadership Steele built over two decades.
Appointment as CEO of Splunk
In April 2022, Steele was appointed CEO of Splunk to lead the data giant through its next phase of growth and its critical transition to a cloud-first business model, leveraging his extensive experience in scaling SaaS companies.
What's Gary Steele's Educational Background?
BS, Computer Science
Washington State University - Year 1980
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Company Overview
Shield AIShield AI is a defense technology company that builds artificial intelligence pilots for aircraft. Its mission is to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems. The company's flagship product, Hivemind, is an AI pilot that enables swarms of drones and aircraft to operate autonomously in high-threat environments without the need for GPS, communications, or a human pilot in control.
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