AVG Technologies, maker of free and premium Internet security software for PCs and mobile devices, today named Gary Kovacs as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director.
Kovacs joins AVG from Mozilla Corporation, the organization behind popular Web browser Firefox, where he most recently served as CEO, responsible for expanding the company’s desktop and mobile businesses.
The appointment, which is subject to shareholder approval, brings a seasoned technology executive to the growing security firm.
Kovacs will be based out of AVG’s San Francisco office, effective Sept. 1, an AVG spokesperson told SecurityWeek.
Prior to joining Mozilla, Kovacs served as Senior VP of Markets, Solutions & Products at Sybase and General Manager and VP of Mobile & Devices at Adobe. He also held a variety of senior marketing, product management, technical and operating positions with other firms including Macromedia (acquired by Adobe), Zi Corporation (acquired by Nuance Communications) and IBM.
“We welcome Gary to AVG and look forward to benefiting from his seasoned leadership skills as CEO and as a member of the Management Board. His past career successes are directly applicable to the opportunity and the future of AVG — mobile, cloud, software and platforms — and we believe that his rare blend of experience, leadership and drive will take AVG to new levels,” said Dale Fuller, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of AVG.
“We know that there are over two and a half billion people online and we anticipate another two and a half billion people coming online in the next five years. With all these people online there is going to be an increasing urgency to secure them,” said Gary Kovacs, newly named Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, AVG Technologies. “I have dedicated my last three years to that pursuit and with AVG building products that simplify and secure users’ digital lives, it is a natural fit. I am really excited to be here and I am looking forward to helping AVG continue to grow its business.”
A general meeting of shareholders will be held to approve Kovacs’ appointment as CEO and a member of the company’s management Board.
AVG, which went public in February 2012, currently maintains a market cap over $1.2 billion.