†Webroot’s†Board of Directors has named technology industry veteran†Mike Potts†as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board, effective†September 25, 2017. Potts succeeds†Dick Williams, who will retire as Webroot’s CEO and continue as a member of the company’s Board.
“Dick has been a tremendous CEO for Webroot, and when he decided to retire we looked for a leader who could build on his legacy of disruptive cybersecurity innovation and reliable business execution,” said†Jake Reynolds, a member of the Webroot Board of Directors. “Mike’s exceptional leadership talent and his over 25-year track record of driving innovation and growth at technology companies make him the right choice to take Webroot to the next level of success.”
Potts’ technology industry experience spans the application and security sectors, and he will lead both Webroot’s strategic direction and its day-to-day operations. He most recently served as an integration executive in the security business group at Cisco, following the acquisition of Lancope in 2015. As president and CEO of Lancope, Potts and his team led the transformation of the network security company, driving over 600 percent growth in five years. Prior to Lancope, he served as president and CEO of AirDefense. During his three-year tenure, the company forged a key partnership with Motorola, helping AirDefense drive over 300 percent growth in wireless security. Other prior roles include CEO of ClickFox, president of Jacada, and sales and marketing roles at MSA, which was acquired by Dun & Bradstreet.
“I am thrilled to join Webroot at such an exciting time,” Potts said. “Dick has done a remarkable job developing a strong team and establishing a consistent record of innovation and growth. The urgent need for cyber protection and intelligence increases daily, and Webroot is in a great position to expand market share with its uniquely powerful solutions. I look forward to rapidly accelerating our growth and leadership in cybersecurity for the benefit of our customers, employees, and shareholders alike.”
Williams’ retirement comes after the conclusion of Webroot’s†successful fiscal year 2017, which marked 14 consecutive quarters of double-digit growth. He joined Webroot in 2009 and led a reinvention of the company with the introduction of the first cloud-based cybersecurity solutions. During his tenure, Webroot achieved rapid, profitable growth and expanded its portfolio to include endpoint and network security, threat intelligence services, and security awareness training.
“I am honored to have helped build and lead the incredibly talented Webroot team for the past eight years,” Williams said. “I am proud of each of them, how they developed, and all we collectively accomplished. Webroot transformed an industry, and now protects millions of consumers and over 210,000 businesses from the risks of cyber threats. I am confident that Mike is the right person to lead this fantastic team going forward.”
