Webroot CEO To Retire, Security Vendor Names Former Lancope CEO As New Top Exec

After a drastic company evolution that took it from its web security roots to a cloud-based security company, Webroot said Thursday that it will undergo yet another transformation, as CEO Dick Williams retires and is replaced by former Lancope CEO Mike Potts.

Potts served as CEO of network security company Lancope since 2010, overseeing its 600 percent growth in five years and ultimately leading its $452 million acquisition by Cisco Systems in 2015. Since 2015, he has served as an integration executive at Cisco. He also has held CEO roles at AirDefense and ClickFox, as well as leadership roles at Jacada and MSA.

At Webroot, Potts will be responsible for overseeing the Broomfield, Colo.-based company's daily operations, as well as its overall strategic direction. In an email to CRN, Potts said he will focus on building on the company's MSP partner program and expanding its solution set. He said he also will look to add more technology partners that integrate the company's threat intelligence into their products.

[Related: Webroot Update Crisis Gives MSPs A Chance To Step Up And Help Customers]

"I believe Webroot has tremendous potential to rapidly grow market share and take a leadership role in the industry. We are especially well positioned in the MSP/SMB segment to expand our footprint, and I’m excited to build on the opportunities we have to develop deeper relationships with partners using our threat intelligence," Potts said.

Potts said the channel will "remain a key focus of Webroot" under his leadership. He said he will look to drive deeper relationships with existing partners, as well as expand its footprint to new partners and with new offerings.

"We will remain laser-focused on customer success and introducing more security capabilities for our MSPs and expanding our network of partners embedding our threat intelligence. Personally, I am excited to dive into this market, meet with partners, and hear first-hand about their business needs and how we can help them," Potts said.

William Augustine, president of Cincinnati-based Augustine Consulting, a Webroot partner, said security technology is more important than ever and he is looking forward to what new strategies and ideas Potts will bring to the table as CEO.

’Throughout our partnership with Webroot, we’ve seen their commitment to our success and are confident this will continue under new leadership. … We look forward to seeing what innovative ideas Mike brings to the table and wish nothing but the best for Dick in his retirement," Augustine said in an email.

Departing CEO Williams has been with Webroot since 2009, helping the company transform its portfolio from web security to a broader, cloud-based security portfolio around endpoint security, network security, threat intelligence and security awareness training. Williams will remain on Webroot's board of directors.

Williams also helped drive profitable growth at Webroot, including 14 consecutive quarters of double-digit bookings growth. In August, Webroot reported bookings growth of 35 percent year over year. Webroot, a privately held company, did not disclose its revenue or profit numbers at that time.

’I am honored to have helped build and lead the incredibly talented Webroot team for the past eight years,’ Williams said in a statement. ’I am proud of each of them, how they developed, and all we collectively accomplished. Webroot transformed an industry, and now protects millions of consumers and over 210,000 businesses from the risks of cyberthreats. I am confident that Mike is the right person to lead this fantastic team going forward.’

Potts thanked Williams for his leadership of the company, saying he helped position Webroot for its next phase.

"I want to thank Dick for his years of leadership and transforming Webroot into the company it is today. I’m ready to take the reins and lead the company – and our partners – to the next level of success," Potts said.