McAfee Adds Security Chief, Two Other Execs

McAfee announced the hiring of three senior-level executives Jan. 8, adding a chief security officer along with two other line-of-business leaders.

The Santa Clara, Calif.-based security software maker brought onboard individuals to fill three roles that have not previously been maintained at the firm, announcing the hiring of Martin Carmichael as its first CSO, along with the addition of Bill Curtis as its chief process officer and Carl Banzhof as vice president and chief technology evangelist.

Company officials said that the addition of the three executives will help McAfee facilitate the development of new products and services, along with improving its operational and business infrastructure.

McAfee is currently navigating its way through an executive stock options backdating scandal that led to the firing of former president Kevin Weiss in October 2006, along with the subsequent resignation of longtime chairman and chief executive George Samenuk. On Jan. 2, the company detailed a range of adjustments made to its previous stock options grants to help correct previous errors related to the backdating scheme.

The newest McAfee leaders were appointed by Dale Fuller, who has been serving as interim CEO of the company since the backdating scandal led to the executive departures. Fuller indicated that the company was looking for a fresh start heading into 2007.

“The industry expertise that Martin, Bill and Carl bring with them will put McAfee in a strong position as we start 2007 as a new year of growth and innovation,” Fuller said in a statement. “Our commitment to finding the best and brightest talent will continue to help us deliver on the promise of quality we’ve made to our customers, investors and employees.”

McAfee said that Carmichael, who previously served as CSO at wireless communications software maker Asurion, will be responsible for managing McAfee’s IT risk assessment and compliance operations, including protection of the company’s intellectual assets, financial interests and reputation.

Carmichael will also be responsible for the McAfee’s physical security systems, including its hard assets, security engineering group and forensics operations. Carmichael held a senior role with Wells Fargo Bank, and worked on classified projects for NATO and the Department of Defense prior to joining Asurion.

As chief process officer, McAfee said that Curtis will be responsible for managing company-wide business process improvement projects, and that he will also contribute to some new product development efforts. Before joining McAfee, Curtis held the same role with applications development specialists at Borland, where he held the role of chief process officer. Interim CEO Fuller is another former Borland executive.

Click here to read more about McAfee’s stock options scandal.

The company said that Banzhof will be “heavily involved” in the design and architecture, technical promotion of McAfee’s security risk management products, and will help lead its software development teams. The executive, who joined McAfee through its October 2006 acquisition of compliance software maker Citadel, will also work with external customers to help elaborate the company’s vision to end users.

At the time of Weiss’ firing, McAfee indicated that its board had appointed a search subcommittee to immediately begin looking for a permanent CEO replacement, and said that it intended to consider both internal and external candidates for the job.

Weiss had been with McAfee since October 2002 and was appointed president of the company in March 2006, while Samenuk served as the company’s chairman and CEO for just over six years before being forced into retirement by the backdating scandal.

As a result of the departures, McAfee also said that it was giving more executive power to its chief financial officer, Eric Brown, who took on the additional responsibilities of chief operating officer. Charles Robel, the chief operating officer at venture capital company Hummer Winblad Venture Partners, signed on as Samenuk’s replacement as McAfee chairman.

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