By Chris Fleck

In January 2016, Citrix announced Kirill Tatarinov as its new CEO after an extensive global search. Mark Templeton, who retired in October after 20 years, grew Citrix’s revenue from
$15 million to $3.2 billion. He left as a software industry legend and created high expectations for his successor.

Tatarinov comes to Citrix with an impressive resume and 30 years of industry experience that aligns very well with the company’s focus on secure delivery of apps and data. A native of Moscow, where he received a master’s in systems engineering, Tatarinov came to the U.S. by way of Australia, where he
co-founded Patrol Software, a systems monitoring company.

When his company was purchased by BMC, Tatarinov moved from Australia to Houston. Initially, he led the growth of the Patrol product line into a strategic contributor of BMC’s transition beyond mainframe software. Over time at BMC, he moved into a corporate development role, earned his MBA and ultimately held the position of executive chief technology officer.

In 2002, Microsoft recruited Tatarinov to lead the Windows management and solutions organization, which included very relevant technologies in app delivery. As executive vice president of the business solutions division, he went on to run the Microsoft Dynamics product lines, which included the transformation to the cloud and doubling the business to over $2 billion in revenue.

Microsoft is Citrix’s most strategic partner in product integrations and go-to market initiatives. Having Tatarinov on board as Citrix’s CEO will provide a unique advantage and help grow the partnership even further.

Upon starting at Citrix, Tatarinov said, “I am honored to join Citrix during this exciting time. Citrix is an iconic company with a world-class brand, innovative products and a large installed base, including 99 percent of the Global 500. Citrix is a key enabler of digital business. Across every industry and region, the secure delivery of apps and data is a strategic imperative for organizations of all sizes. I look forward to working alongside Citrix’s leaders, talented employees and dedicated partners around the world to push the boundaries of innovation and create greater value together.”

The South Florida tech community should also be pleased to know that Tatarinov is moving to the area, buying a home and keeping the company headquarters in Fort Lauderdale. The appeal of a home office with an ocean view certainly fits the company’s mantra of “Work Better. Live Better.” ¿

Chris Fleck is on the board of the South Florida Technology Alliance and vice president of emerging solutions for Citrix Systems (NASDAQ: CTXS), a Fort Lauderdale company that provides secure delivery of applications and data.