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Stock price up 5X in 6 years. Indian-origin CEO Nikesh Arora hailed as ‘GOAT’ by cricket star Kevin Pietersen
Nikesh Arora, the Indian-American business executive at the helm of Palo Alto Networks, recently found himself the subject of attention on social media after a witty exchange on X (formerly Twitter). His light-hearted yet sharp response to criticism gained traction, catching the eye of notable figures like former England cricket star Kevin Pietersen, who publicly declared Arora as the “GOAT” (Greatest of All Time).
Arora, who has been leading Palo Alto Networks since 2018, has played a pivotal role in the company’s growth and success. Under his leadership, the cybersecurity giant has experienced a significant boost in its market performance, with its stock price surging fivefold. This impressive achievement positions Palo Alto Networks as a major player in the fields of Cloud, Application, and Network security. Arora’s tenure has been marked by a strategic balance between internal innovation and aggressive mergers and acquisitions, ensuring the company remains at the forefront of the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape.
The recognition of Arora’s impact reached new heights when Dick Costolo, former CEO of Twitter, posted an appreciation tweet. Costolo reflected on his initial skepticism when Arora took over as CEO of Palo Alto Networks, given his background in sales and business rather than deep tech. Despite the initial doubts, Arora’s track record has proven otherwise. Under his stewardship, Palo Alto Networks not only thrived but also maintained a strong pace of development and expansion in a highly competitive market. Costolo’s post acknowledged Arora’s leadership and the company’s impressive trajectory, drawing widespread attention on social media.
It was in response to this post that Kevin Pietersen, never one to shy away from expressing his views, chimed in with a succinct endorsement. Calling Arora the “GOAT,” Pietersen’s comment amplified the already growing buzz around Arora’s leadership prowess, cementing his status as a respected figure in both the tech and business worlds.
However, not all the feedback was purely admiration. An user attempted to downplay Arora’s credentials by labeling him an “untrained engineer.” “Nikesh has enough experience & expertise and a solid network in the tech ecosystem even if he’s not a trained engineer. Hence success,” the user said.
In response, Arora didn’t let the remark slide. Rather than becoming defensive, he responded with a touch of humor, pointing out that he is, in fact, a trained engineer, having graduated from the prestigious IT-BHU, now IIT-Varanasi. His witty comeback not only corrected the misconception but also demonstrated his ability to handle criticism with grace and humor. This response was well-received by his followers, with many appreciating his balanced approach to addressing detractors.
About Nikesh Arora
Nikesh Arora became the chairman and CEO of Palo Alto Networks in June 2018. Before this role, he served as president and COO of SoftBank Group Corp. and spent a decade at Google, Inc., where he held several senior positions, including chief business officer and president of global sales operations. His career also includes roles such as chief marketing officer at T-Mobile International and CEO of T-Motion PLC, which later merged with T-Mobile International.
Nikesh is actively involved in leadership beyond his executive roles. He serves on the board of Compagnie Financière Richemont S.A., a luxury goods holding company, and Tipping Point, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting poverty in the Bay Area. His past board memberships include SoftBank, Sprint, Colgate-Palmolive, and Yahoo! Japan. He holds advanced degrees in Business Administration and Finance from Northeastern University and Boston College, respectively, and a B. Tech. in electrical engineering from IT-BHU (now IIT Varanasi).
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