Endpoint Security,
Governance & Risk Management,
Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP)
Vats Srivatsan Appointed Interim CEO at WatchGuard Following Prakash Panjwani’s Departure
Vats Srivatsan, the former Chief Operating Officer of SentinelOne, has been appointed as the interim CEO of cybersecurity firm WatchGuard, a notable player in the managed security service provider (MSSP) sector. This leadership transition comes as Prakash Panjwani, who served as CEO since April 2015, steps down but will retain a position on the board.
Based in Seattle, WatchGuard has tasked Srivatsan with vital responsibilities, including scaling the company’s platform, enhancing partner engagement, and driving innovation in managed services, endpoint security, and hybrid network security solutions. In his statement, Srivatsan emphasized his belief in WatchGuard’s MSP-focused approach and the importance of making cybersecurity accessible to all businesses.
With nearly three years at SentinelOne and previous roles at Palo Alto Networks and Google, Srivatsan brings a wealth of experience. His background includes leadership in business strategy and operations for Google Cloud. In addition to his CEO role, he will join WatchGuard’s board, overseeing the search for a permanent successor.
Vector Capital, the majority owner of WatchGuard, expressed confidence in Srivatsan’s capabilities. According to Managing Director Sandy Gill, his strategic thinking and operational expertise are crucial for fulfilling WatchGuard’s vision and driving transformative growth.
WatchGuard has made significant progress under Panjwani’s leadership, including six acquisitions aimed at expanding capabilities beyond network security. In particular, the acquisition of Panda Security in March 2020 marked a strategic shift towards endpoint detection and response solutions. More recently, WatchGuard acquired StackRox and CyGlass to further enhance its offerings in managed detection and response for midmarket businesses.
Under Panjwani’s leadership, WatchGuard has grown its workforce by nearly 28% since 2021, reflecting both the company’s expansion and its commitment to providing robust cybersecurity solutions. The organization was recently recognized by IDC as a leader in endpoint security for midsize businesses, though analysts noted gaps in its offerings, particularly in security information and event management (SIEM) capabilities.
For those concerned about potential vulnerabilities, the tactics employed during these leadership transitions can be analyzed through the MITRE ATT&CK framework. Techniques related to initial access and privilege escalation could be relevant in understanding how such organizational changes impact operational continuity and security posture.
Panjwani concluded his tenure with reflections on strong leadership and personal insight, emphasizing the importance of aligning one’s career with personal well-being and clarity of purpose.
