Zscaler, Inc., a renowned leader in cloud security, is strengthening its commitment to advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) by welcoming two prominent tech industry disruptors to its executive team. In a strategic move to fortify its Zero Trust Exchange cloud security platform, Claudionor Coelho Jr. has been appointed as Chief AI Officer, while Mohamed Shabar joins as EVP Data & AI Platforms. These appointments reflect Zscaler’s dedication to fostering rapid innovation in applied Machine Learning (ML) and AI, reshaping the landscape of cloud-based security technologies.
Accelerating AI innovation in cloud security
Zscaler’s Chief Technology Officer, Syam Nair, expressed his enthusiasm about the new additions to the executive team, stating, “We are delighted that Mohamed and Claudionor are joining the Zscaler family to drive the vision and implementation of advanced AI technologies for the world’s largest cloud security platform. Combining Claudionor’s and Mohamed’s expertise and accomplishments in creating cutting-edge AI/ML and hyper-scale automation platforms technologies will help propel Zscaler’s innovation engine and enable our customers to accelerate their digital transformation initiatives.”
Mohamed Shabar: A proven leader in AI and automation
Mohamed Shabar brings over 25 years of IT experience to Zscaler, with a track record of driving automation, AI, and cloud platform development. Before joining Zscaler, Shabar led the Marketing Cloud Technology organization at Salesforce, where he achieved remarkable results, including a 30% CAGR over four years and a 3X reduction in customer attrition. Under Shabar’s leadership, Salesforce’s automation platform experienced a 10X scaling in volume and throughput, revolutionizing B2C growth and enabling the delivery of trillions of hyper-personalized messages for enterprises. Before Salesforce, Shabar spent 18 years at Microsoft, where he focused on building robust platforms, developer tools, and ecosystems.
“I’m thrilled to join the visionary team at Zscaler,” said Mohamed Shabar, EVP Data & AI Platforms Zscaler. “In the era of zero trust, we’ll empower organizations to thrive against an evolving threat landscape with AI, data, and automation, and build a future where resilience is rooted in the power of Zscaler’s largest security cloud.”
Claudionor Coelho Jr.: A pioneer in AI and ML
Claudionor Coelho Jr. is another significant addition to Zscaler’s leadership team, bringing a wealth of expertise for developing AI and ML innovations. Before joining Zscaler, Coelho served as the Chief AI Officer and SVP of Engineering at Advantest, where he led the development of a Zero Trust private cloud solution tailored for the semiconductor manufacturing market. His previous role was VP/Fellow of AI and Head of AI Labs at Palo Alto Networks, where he played a pivotal role in advancing AI, AIOps, and Neuro-symbolic AI, an advanced form of AI enabling reasoning, learning, and cognitive modeling at scale. Coelho’s impressive career also includes vital roles in ML and Deep Learning at Google, where he developed state-of-the-art Deep Learning technology designed for automatic quantization and model compression, contributing significantly to the search for subatomic particles at CERN.
“As Zscaler continues to empower organizations to realize the full potential of the cloud and mobility securely, I’m humbled to join this exceptional organization at the forefront of zero trust cybersecurity,” said Claudionor Coelho Jr., Chief AI Officer, Zscaler. “In our relentless pursuit of zero trust, at Zscaler, we’ll revolutionize how we protect data, devices, and networks through state-of-the-art applied Machine Learning (ML), Deep Learning, and Generative AI techniques.”
A commitment to leading AI innovation
As Zscaler charts its course for the next era of growth and innovation, the appointments of Shabar and Coelho signal the company’s unwavering commitment to spearheading advancements in the evolving AI landscape. Their leadership, extensive experience, and visionary approaches are expected to be pivotal in accelerating Zscaler’s ongoing mission to protect organizations in today’s mobile and cloud era.
Zscaler’s strategic move to bring in top tech talent underscores its dedication to staying at the forefront of cloud security. With Mohamed Shabar and Claudionor Coelho Jr. joining the ranks, the company is poised to drive AI innovation and deliver cutting-edge solutions that safeguard organizations in an ever-changing digital landscape. This move marks a significant step in shaping the future of cloud-based security technologies, firmly establishing Zscaler as a leader in the field.
