Amit Yoran, CEO and Chairman of Cybersecurity Firm Tenable Holdings, Dies at 54
Amit Yoran, the CEO and chairman of cybersecurity firm Tenable Holdings, passed away on Friday after a battle with cancer, the company announced. He was 54 years old.
Yoran was not only a visionary leader but also a guiding force who profoundly impacted the industry, the company, its culture, and its community, according to a message from Bridgett Paradise, Tenable’s chief people and culture officer.
Yoran took a medical leave of absence on December 5 and had been serving as the company’s CEO since 2016, leading the company through its initial public offering in 2018. The Maryland-based company said that during his absence, CFO Steve Vintz and COO Mark Thurmond would become co-CEOs and would lead the company while a permanent CEO is sought.
Yoran had a long history in the cybersecurity industry, having served as president of RSA Security, a computer and network security company, and as the founder of NetWitness, a threat detection and response platform. He also co-founded Riptech Inc. in 1998, which used sensor networks to protect government and corporate computers from attacks.
Yoran’s experience took him to the US government, where he was named director of the National Cyber Security Division of the Homeland Security Department in 2003, a position he held for one year. He was a frequent guest on cable news, discussing cybersecurity and data collection issues, including an interview on CNN in March 2023 about the US government’s potential ban on TikTok due to data collection concerns.
Yoran’s passion for cybersecurity, his strategic vision, and his ability to inspire those around him have shaped Tenable’s culture and mission, said Art Coviello, who will become chairman and lead independent director. Yoran’s legacy will continue to guide the company as it moves forward.
