Find out more about the people behind the Astaro vision, and those who joined the management team over the following years.

The Astaro Management Team

Astaro was founded in 2000 with the pioneering goal of consolidating a complete package of network security applications into one, reducing complexity and costs whilst solidifying security levels. Through the Sophos acquisition in the early summer months of 2011, we were able to further strengthen our position in the market and become the network security product line within a much larger organization. Here you can find out more about the people behind the initial vision, and those who joined the management team over the following years.
Jan Hichert, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Network Security,
Jan Hichert, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Network Security,
co-founded Astaro in early 2000 and has led the company since then as CEO. He now serves as General Manager of the Network Security Business. Before Astaro, Jan consulted with software vendors and internet service providers on IT security and open source business models. Jan studied business at the University of St. Gallen and computer science at the Technical University of Karlsruhe before becoming an entrepreneur.
Gert Hansen, Chief Software Architect, Network Security,
Gert Hansen, Chief Software Architect, Network Security,
co-founded Astaro in early 2000 and is still responsible for product strategy and software design for network security solutions within Sophos. He was previously with the Internet service provider Plannet Systems and also co-founded the web development company Timenet, collecting extensive experience in both technology and entrepreneurship. Gert studied computer science at the Technical University of Karlsruhe.
Markus Hennig, Chief Technology Officer, Network Security,
Markus Hennig, Chief Technology Officer, Network Security,
co-founded Astaro in early 2000. As with his previous duties for Astaro, he is responsible for research, new technologies and products for network security with Sophos. Markus has over ten years of experience in open source and network security and is an active member of the Linux community. In his previous career, he was Chief Technology Officer of the Internet service provider Plannet Systems where he built up the company's managed security business. Markus studied computer science at the Technical University of Karlsruhe.
Günter Junk, Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing, Network Security,
Günter Junk, Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing, Network Security,
joined Astaro in 2009 and is also now responsible for worldwide sales and marketing strategy of the network security solutions within Sophos. Before joining Astaro, Günter lead Swyx Solutions AG in his position as CEO. Under his leadership, Swyx was able to reach their current position as a market leader for IP telephony in Europe. In the years before his time at Swyx, Günter build up the German sales organization for Cisco Systems, became General Manager for Cisco Germany and was then elected as VP for European operations. Günter studied Communication Technology at the University of Cologne.
Richard Walford, Vice President of Engineering, Network Security,
Richard Walford, Vice President of Engineering, Network Security,
joined Astaro in 2008 and is responsible for delivery of the Astaro product roadmap which transforms into the network security product line within Sophos. Formerly Vice President research and development at SDL Tridion, Richard has extensive experience in the software industry. He has held senior management roles at Compuware, Softlab and Metier Management Systems, with responsibilities spanning both software and business development of complex software products. Richard has a MA in engineering from Cambridge University, UK.
Ralf Haubrich, VP Central Europe (Astaro) & VP Channel Sales & SMB Central Europe (Sophos),
Ralf Haubrich, VP Central Europe (Astaro) & VP Channel Sales & SMB Central Europe (Sophos),
is with Astaro since 2004 and today responsible for the coordination of sales activities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. After the merger with Sophos, he also took over responsibility for the Sophos channel in the German speaking markets as Vice President Channel Sales and SMB. Over the years, Ralf has gained a vast amount of experience through several management positions in the IT sales industry, such as Managing Director Sales & Marketing for toplink-plannet GmbH and Regional Sales Director DACH for Kneip Communication S.A. in Luxembourg. Ralf Haubrich is a Business Graduate and studied Business Administration at the University of Trier.
André Scheffknecht, Vice President EMEA, Network Security,
André Scheffknecht, Vice President EMEA, Network Security,
is responsible for the business development and sales activities across Europe, Middle East and Africa outside of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. André maintains over 8 years of experience in the appliance and security industry and co-founded Apligo, an appliance fulfillment company and one of Astaro's first OEM partners. He joined Astaro in 2005 as Sales Director and was promoted to Vice President EMEA in 2009, now holding this position within Sophos for the network security solutions. André studied Computer Science at the University of Karlsruhe and Business Economics at the University of Innsbruck.
Bob Darabant, Vice President Americas, Network Security,
Bob Darabant, Vice President Americas, Network Security,
is with Astaro since 2010, leading the US corporation of Astaro. After the acquisition, he is now responsible for the revenue of the network security solutions in the US for Sophos. Prior to joining Astaro, Bob was co-founder of Montego Networks where he introduced the industry’s first virtual machine to virtual machine security software. In addition, Bob has held a variety of executive level positions including serving as the Vice President of Sales at NetScreen, and Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing at Reflex Security and Blue Socket. Bob holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Bachelor of Science in Management from Slippery Rock University.
Norbert Kiss, Vice President Asia Pacific, Network Security,
Norbert Kiss, Vice President Asia Pacific, Network Security,
joined Astaro in 2009 and continues to lead business development for the network security solutions in Asia. Based in Singapore, Norbert has extensive experience throughout Asia Pacific, having worked and lived in this region for decades specializing in growing companies within the Asia Pacific region. Norbert has worked and held executive positions at companies such as Lexmark, Oracle, Geac and WatchGuard. Norbert holds an MBA from the University of Ottawa, Canada with a focus on Asia and is a graduate of the Columbia Business School’s Senior Executive Development program.
Masaharu Kimura, Executive Advisor for Japan, Network Security,
Masaharu Kimura, Executive Advisor for Japan, Network Security,

graduated from the Tokyo Institute of Technology in 1970 and then proceeded to expand his horizons at IBM Japan in many areas including SE/Sales Manager, Director of Large Systems, Director of Software and Vice President of Software in IBM AP. Assigned to IBM USA twice, he first worked as a Sales Manager at the Insurance Industry New York office and then as the Executive Assistant to the IBM CEO, Louis Gerstner. He was the first president of IBCS Japan after merging PWC Consulting and the IBM Consulting Service Group in 2002. After retiring from IBM in 2006, he worked as the CEO of ACCA Networks. He is currently an Executive Advisor for SAP Japan.

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