Stellar Cyber Builds Momentum, Expands Leadership Team to Support Company Growth

SANTA CLARA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Stellar Cyber, a leading innovator in AI-driven cybersecurity solutions and a pioneer in breach detection systems, today announced the appointment of two cybersecurity veterans to their rapidly growing team. Jared Hufferd, a former Protectwise and Vectra Networks executive, has been appointed Vice President of Sales, Americas, and Snehal Contractor, most recently with Palo Alto Networks, was named Senior Director of Worldwide Sales Engineering. In addition, Paul Jespersen has been promoted to Vice President, Business Development and International. The expansion takes place as Stellar Cyber ramps up its operations in response to global demand for its Data Driven Cyber Security System.

Stellar Cyber expands leadership team – ramps up across sales, engineering and support in response to global demand for its Data Driven Cyber Security System.

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“In the face of ever-growing cybersecurity threats, more companies are looking to Stellar Cyber for complete and innovative pervasive breach detection solutions,” said Changming Liu, CEO, Stellar Cyber. “We’re bullish about the technological advantages that our flagship solution, Starlight, has over our competitors. The strengthening of our leadership team to execute our sales strategy demonstrates our commitment to the security and success of our current and future customers.”

The newest additions to Stellar Cyber’s executive team bring with them a wealth of experience in cybersecurity companies and the security industry.

Jared Hufferd, Vice President of Sales, Americas

Hufferd brings to Stellar Cyber over 20 years of experience in security solutions and success management. At Stellar Cyber, he will be responsible for leading and growing Stellar Cyber’s salesforce and expanding Stellar Cyber’s network of resellers and MSSP partners in the Americas.

“With significant sales, customer interest, and a very healthy pipeline, it was an easy decision to increase our investment in sales by bringing in a top sales leader such as Jared. We are confident that he will accelerate our near- and long-term growth and be a key asset to our executive team during this exciting time,” said John Peterson, Chief Product Officer of Stellar Cyber.

Prior to joining the company, Hufferd spent the last five years as the top revenue producing sales leader for cybersecurity firms Protectwise and Vectra Networks. Earlier he served as a security solutions sales executive for Netscreen, Fortinet, and Cisco.

“I’m excited to join forces with this dedicated group of industry veterans, some of whom I’ve worked with at previous companies,” said Hufferd. “I’ve seen first-hand the mounting security challenges that companies are facing while employing existing tools, and based on their reactions, it’s clear that Stellar Cyber’s Starlight PBDS solution is the complete and innovative solution that companies need.”

Snehal Contractor, Senior Director of Worldwide Sales Engineering

Snehal Contractor comes to the company with nearly 20 years of technical pre-sales experience in cybersecurity. At Stellar Cyber, Contractor will be responsible for directing the company’s technical field efforts including pre-sales customer support, partner technical enablement, and training.

Prior to Stellar Cyber, he spent the last seven years at Palo Alto Networks, where he served as a global sales engineering leader focused on Tier One systems integrators and service providers. Previously, he held positions at Netscreen Technologies, Fortinet, Riverbed, and Cisco as the technical lead supporting top service providers and MSSPs globally.

Paul Jespersen, Vice President Business Development and International

With the addition of Hufferd to the executive team, Paul Jespersen has been promoted to Vice President, Business Development and International. Stellar Cyber has seen significant traction internationally, especially across Asia and in his new role, Jespersen will focus additional resources there as well as continue to head business development efforts with Stellar Cyber’s growing list of technology partners globally.

Since joining the company early this year from Lastline, Jespersen has led Stellar Cyber’s initial sales and business development efforts worldwide. He was instrumental in establishing key distribution partnerships in countries in the region, including Tech Titan in ASEAN, Digital Hearts in Japan, Cyberworld in Hong Kong, and Systex in Taiwan.

To learn more about the benefits of AI-driven pervasive breach detection, read about solutions, take a product tour, and even sign up for a webinar demo walking through the Equifax breach and how Starlight could have detected it, visit the Stellar Cyber website at http://stellarcyber.ai.

About Stellar Cyber

Stellar Cyber invented the industry’s first Data Driven Cyber Security System (PBDS) with AI and Distributed Security Intelligence™, empowering organizations to proactively detect and thwart attacks on their critical data systems before damage is done. Stellar Cyber’s innovative approach pervasively collects and analyzes complete and contextual data with zero blind spots across networks, servers, applications, and intelligence feeds. Instead of overwhelming security teams with countless alarms, the Stellar Cyber PBDS uses Machine Learning to cut through the noise and deliver high-fidelity, actionable alerts, reducing the time to detect from months to minutes. Stellar Cyber’s software-based solution deploys easily and quickly in any computing and network environment. Located in Silicon Valley, CA, Stellar Cyber is backed by Northern Light Venture Capital. Learn more at www.aelladata.com.