View source for Biography:Ashar Aziz

{{short description|Pakistani–American electrical engineer, business executive, and philanthropist}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Ashar Aziz
| image              =
| caption            = 
| native_name        = {{Nastaliq|اشعر عزیز}}
| native_name_lang   = ur
| birth_name         = Ashar Aziz Butt<ref name="Nation"/>
| birth_date         = {{Birth year and age|1959}}
| birth_place        = [[Place:Karachi|Karachi]], Sindh, Pakistan
| nationality        = American<br> Pakistani
| education          = 
| alma_mater         = [[Organization:University of California, Berkeley|University of California, Berkeley]]<br> [[Organization:Massachusetts Institute of Technology|Massachusetts Institute of Technology]]<br> Middle East Technical University
| occupation         = {{flatlist|
*Electrical engineer
* business executive
* philanthropist}}
| years_active       = 1981–present
| employer           = 
| organization       = 
| known_for          = 
| title              = Founder and CEO of [[Company:FireEye|FireEye]]<br>
Chairman of Sky Electric
| boards             = 
| parents            = Asghar Butt (father)<ref name="TN1"/><br> Nisar Aziz (mother)<ref name="Dawn"/>
| relatives          = Sartaj Aziz (uncle)<br> Majid Nizami (uncle)
| family             = 
| awards             = Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award<br> Sitara-i-Imtiaz
| website            = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
}}
'''Ashar Aziz''' ({{lang-ur|{{Nastaliq|اشعر عزیز}}}}; born 1959) is a Pakistani–American [[Electrical engineering|electrical engineer]], [[Finance:Business executive|business executive]], and philanthropist. He is best known as the founder of Silicon Valley-based cybersecurity company [[Company:FireEye|FireEye]].<ref name="MIT">{{cite web|url=https://www.eecs.mit.edu/node/6086|title=Ashar Aziz '81|work=MIT Electrical Engineering and Computer Science|date=2015|accessdate=7 April 2020|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407075844/https://www.eecs.mit.edu/node/6086|archivedate=7 April 2020}}</ref> A former billionaire,<ref name="TNS"/><ref name="Forbes"/><ref name="BI"/> Aziz had an estimated net worth of over {{wipe|United States dollar}} 233 million as of 2015.<ref name="Wallmine">{{cite web|url=https://au.wallmine.com/people/9676/ashar-aziz|title=Ashar Aziz|work=Wallmine|date=15 June 2019|accessdate=7 April 2020}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Aziz was born in [[Place:Karachi|Karachi]] in 1959 and grew up in [[Place:Islamabad|Islamabad]], Pakistan.<ref name="TNS">{{cite news|url=https://thenewspaces.com/2016/03/07/making-the-impossible-possible-ashar-aziz/|title=Making the Impossible Possible: Ashar Aziz|work=The New Spaces|date=7 March 2016|accessdate=7 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://propakistani.pk/2016/09/22/pakistani-americans-cybersecurity-company-worth-2-43-billion-today/|title=This Pakistani-American's Cybersecurity Company is Worth $2.43 Billion Today|first=Rehan|last=Ahmed|work=ProPakistani.pk|date=22 September 2016 |quote=Meet Ashar Aziz, a 57-year-old entrepreneur who entered Forbes’ Billionaire list two years back. Born in Pakistan, Aziz is the founder of FireEye, a cyber security company that provides automated threat forensics and dynamic malware protection.|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923181549/https://propakistani.pk/2016/09/22/pakistani-americans-cybersecurity-company-worth-2-43-billion-today/|archivedate=23 September 2016}}</ref> He arrived in the United States as a student, having gained admission into the Massachusetts Institute of Technology School of Engineering (MIT).<ref name="MIT"/> Prior to entering MIT, he completed two years of foundation studies at the Middle East Technical University (METU) in Turkey during the mid-1970s. He graduated from MIT with a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering in 1981, followed by a Master of Science in computer science from the [[Organization:University of California, Berkeley|University of California, Berkeley]], where he was also granted a Regents' Fellowship.<ref name="MIT"/><ref name="TNS"/>

== Career ==
Aziz worked as an engineer at [[Company:Sun Microsystems|Sun Microsystems]] for twelve years, specialising in [[Computer network|computer networking]], [[Network security|network security]], and [[Systems design|system design]].<ref name="MIT"/><ref name="TNS"/> He also served as [[Engineering:Chief technology officer|chief technology officer]] of the N1 program at Sun.<ref name="SE"/> In 1999, he founded his first [[Finance:Startup company|startup company]] Terraspring Inc., which focused on [[Data center security|data center]] automization and [[Virtualization|virtualization]]. The business was bought by Sun Microsystems in 2002, following the [[Finance:Stock market crash|stock market crash]] of 2001.<ref name="MIT"/><ref name="TNS"/>

At around the same time, Aziz began studying the risks stemming from highly stealthy and self-propagating [[Malware|malware]] systems, and the threats they posed to future cybersecurity infrastructures—a problem he first discovered in the U.S. Department of Defense archives. In 2004, he founded FireEye, having become convinced that he could provide the solutions to these emerging cybersecurity challenges.<ref name="MIT"/> He initially worked out of his home for 80 to 100 hours a week, with only $4,000 in his personal savings.<ref name="TNS"/> Initially, most of his technical team comprised engineers and technology professionals he knew from his previous startup.<ref name="TNS"/> Based in Milpitas, California, the company today provides both software and [[Cloud computing|cloud]]-based anti-malware products.<ref name="Forbes"/> According to the MIT Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, "the core of the FireEye platform is a virtual execution engine, complemented by dynamic threat intelligence, to identify and block cyber attacks in real time and across the different stages of an attack life cycle."<ref name="MIT"/> Describing FireEye in 2012, Aziz stated that the company's objective was to strengthen the "security and key infrastructure that is pervasive across financial, government and [[Finance:Credit card|credit card]] infrastructure to protect from three very important threats: crime, espionage, and warfare."<ref name="MIT"/> Aziz served as FireEye's chief executive officer from 2004 to 2012, as well as remaining its [[Social:Chief strategy officer|chief strategy officer]], chief technology officer and board vice chairman.<ref name="MIT"/><ref name="Forbes"/><ref name="SE"/>

{{Cquote|Before you even have an idea, think about how you construct it – backwards – from the problem. Once you have [[Reverse engineering|reverse engineered]] the solution, you have to validate it with a potential customer.|source=Aziz addressing Start6 engineering students at MIT's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2015.<ref name="MIT"/>}}

In December 2012, Aziz stepped down as CEO and former [[Company:McAfee|McAfee]] CEO David DeWalt was appointed to the position.<ref name="Fortune 2016">{{cite web | title = FireEye Names New CEO | website = Fortune | date = May 6, 2016 | url = http://fortune.com/2016/05/06/fireeye-ceo-rumors/ | access-date=September 18, 2018 | first = Robert | last = Hackett}}</ref><ref name="Owens Delevett 2013">{{cite news | last1 = Owens | first1 = Jeremy C. | last2 = Delevett | first2 = Peter | title = FireEye's price more than doubles on Wall Street after eye-popping IPO | newspaper = The Mercury News | date = September 20, 2013 | url = https://www.mercurynews.com/2013/09/20/fireeyes-price-more-than-doubles-on-wall-street-after-eye-popping-ipo-2/ | access-date=September 22, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Reuters">{{cite web | title = FireEye names former McAfee exec Dave DeWalt as CEO, plans IPO | website = Reuters | date = November 28, 2012 | url = https://www.reuters.com/article/fireeye-ceo/fireeye-names-former-mcafee-exec-dave-dewalt-as-ceo-plans-ipo-idUSL1E8MSA7R20121128 | access-date=September 18, 2018}}</ref> DeWalt was recruited in order to prepare the company for an [[Finance:Initial public offering|initial public offering]] (IPO).<ref name="USA TODAY 2013">{{cite web | title = FireEye shares double as hot security firm goes public | website = USA TODAY | date = September 20, 2013 | url = https://www.usatoday.com/story/cybertruth/2013/09/24/fireeye-shares-double-as-security-firm-goes-public/2844227/ | access-date=September 22, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Kelly 2013">{{cite web | last = Kelly | first = Meghan | title = FireEye brings more legitimacy to new security solutions with IPO filing | website = VentureBeat | date = August 5, 2013 | url = https://venturebeat.com/2013/08/05/fireeye-ipo/ | access-date=September 22, 2018}}</ref> The following year, FireEye raised an additional $50 million in venture capital, bringing its total funding to $85 million.<ref name="Westervelt 2013">{{cite web | last = Westervelt | first = Robert | title = FireEye Scores $50M Funding, Beefs Up Executive Team | website = CRN | date = January 10, 2013 | url = https://www.crn.com/news/security/240146043/fireeye-scores-50m-funding-beefs-up-executive-team.htm | access-date=September 22, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Bort 2013">{{cite web | last = Bort | first = Julie | title = Now Worth $1.25 Billion, FireEye Is The Next Hot Enterprise Startup To Watch | website = Business Insider | date = January 10, 2013 | url = https://www.businessinsider.com/fireeye-fundraising-2013-1 | access-date=September 22, 2018}}</ref> In September 2013, FireEye went [[Finance:Public company|public]], raising $300 million.<ref name="Owens Delevett 2013"/> Aziz's shares in FireEye skyrocketed as the company acquired an asset valuation of over US$1 billion.<ref name="TNS"/> According to ''{{wipe|Forbes}}'', he owned 11 million shares in the company and his personal net worth had increased to just over US$1 billion.<ref name="Forbes">{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanmac/2014/03/05/rampant-fireeye-stock-makes-founder-ashar-aziz-a-cybersecurity-billionaire/#7d6b20fb4559|title=Rampant FireEye Shares Makes Founder Ashar Aziz A Cybersecurity Billionaire|work=Forbes|date=5 March 2014|accessdate=7 April 2020|first=Ryan|last=Mac|quote=Ashar Aziz, founder of cybersecurity firm FireEye, is the world's newest billionaire as shares in his company continue to skyrocket following a September initial public offering.}}</ref> However, the ''Business Insider'' explained the appreciation in Aziz's net worth was temporary due to the high fluctations in share prices, dropping his stake worth to under $1 billion once prices dropped.<ref name="BI">{{cite news|url=https://www.businessinsider.com.au/fireeye-goes-nuts-creates-billionaire-2014-3?r=US&IR=T|title=Shares Of Newly Public Company FireEye Have Gone Nuts, And They Have Turned This Man Into A Billionaire|work=Business Insider Australia|first=Julie|last=Bort|date=7 March 2014|accessdate=7 April 2020|quote=In the past few days, shares of security company FireEye have gone absolutely bonkers, turning the company’s founder into an instant billionaire... He owns a 7.8% stake with 10,835,000 shares, worth just over $US1 billion when the share price reached $US93... But the high share price, and Aziz’s newfound billionaire status, might not last that long... Prices have dropped to just below $US92 so far, which makes Ariz’s stake worth just under $US1 billion.}}</ref> According to ''{{wipe|The Wall Street Journal}}'', FireEye was the second-best performing firm in the U.S. that went public in 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/moneybeat/2014/03/03/fireeye-to-cash-in-on-red-hot-share-rally/|title=FireEye Looks to Cash In on Red-Hot Shares|date=3 March 2014|accessdate=7 April 2020|first=Matt|last=Jarzemsky|work=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref> Aziz was inducted into the Forbes' list of billionaires for 2014.<ref name="ET"/><ref name="Aurora"/>

As the inventor of FireEye's malware protection system, Aziz currently holds over 80 [[Social:Patent|patent]]s relating to various cybersecurity technologies, including in the fields of network security, cryptography, and data center virtualization.<ref name="PITB">{{cite web|url=https://www.pitb.gov.pk/system/files/Ashar_Aziz.pdf|title=Ashar Aziz|work=Punjab Information Technology Board|accessdate=7 April 2020}}</ref><ref name="SE">{{cite web|url=https://www.skyelectric.com/about/|title=Ashar Aziz|work=SkyElectric|date=2020|accessdate=8 April 2020|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190308025348/http://www.skyelectric.com/about/|archivedate=8 March 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> He is recognized as the technical visionary and pioneer behind FireEye's core technology.<ref name="CRN"/> In August 2016, it was announced that Aziz had tendered his resignation from FireEye in order to spend more time with his family, and focus on [[Physics:Solar energy|solar energy]] distribution projects in developing countries.<ref name="CRN">{{cite news|url=https://www.crn.com/news/security/300081986/partners-concerned-about-future-as-fireeye-founder-resigns-from-board-of-directors.htm|title=Partners Concerned About Future As FireEye Founder Resigns From Board Of Directors|first=Sarah|last=Kuranda|work=CERN|date=7 September 2016|accessdate=7 April 2020}}</ref> A partner of FireEye described the news as "disconcerting" for FireEye's future and its workforce, and predicted his exit would accelerate discussions on a potential sale of the company.<ref name="CRN"/> However, a FireEye source dismissed this notion, stating the company would operate under its new CEO and continue to provide solutions using its multi-vector virtual execution (MVX) technology. The source also clarified that Aziz felt he was leaving the company in "good hands", and that he was still a shareholder in FireEye.<ref name="CRN"/>

== Philanthropy ==
Aziz is the founding CEO of SkyElectric Inc., a company which seeks to provide affordable and sustainable solar energy solutions. In February 2017, he pitched solar energy as the solution to Pakistan's electricity crisis and launched his company's operations in the country.<ref name="ET">{{cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1341044/smart-energy-system-skyelectric-looks-upwards/|title=With smart energy system, SkyElectric looks upwards|work=The Express Tribune|first=Zafar|last=Bhutta|date=28 February 2017|accessdate=7 April 2020}}</ref><ref name="Aurora">{{cite news|url=https://aurora.dawn.com/news/1143535|title=Making solar possible|work=Dawn Aurora|first=Anusha|last=Zahid|date=October 2019|accessdate=7 April 2020}}</ref>

He is a member of the board of governors of Namal Institute, founded by Imran Khan. In January 2020, he inaugurated the Nisar Aziz Agri-Tech Center at Namal Institute at Namal. Named after his mother, the center would assist in the development of a "robust agricultural economy through technology" by promoting low-cost agricultural practices, and providing agricultural education to farmers in Pakistan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.namalknowledgecity.com/news/nisar-aziz-agri-tech-center-fostering-rural-development|title=Nisar Aziz Agri-Tech Center; fostering rural development|work=Namal Knowledge City|date=10 January 2020|accessdate=7 April 2020|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407144115/https://www.namalknowledgecity.com/news/nisar-aziz-agri-tech-center-fostering-rural-development|archivedate=7 April 2020}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Aziz's father, Asghar Butt, was a journalist, writer and playwright, who served as the deputy editor of the Pakistani broadsheet ''The Nation''.<ref name="TN1">{{cite news|url=https://nation.com.pk/22-Sep-2013/fireeye-s-debut-signals-red-hot-interest-in-cybersecurity|title=FireEye's debut signals red hot interest in cybersecurity|work=The Nation|date=22 September 2013|accessdate=7 April 2020|quote=Ashar Aziz, founder, CTO and chief strategy officer of FireEye and son of late Asghar Butt, former deputy editor of Pakistan’s leading national daily The Nation, was one of the big personal gainers from FireEye’s IPO.}}</ref><ref name="Nation">{{cite news|url=https://nation.com.pk/14-Nov-2012/journalist-writer-and-dramatist-asghar-butt-passes-aged-91|title=Journalist, writer and dramatist Asghar Butt passes, aged 91|work=The Nation|date=14 November 2012|accessdate=7 April 2020|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407143221/https://nation.com.pk/14-Nov-2012/journalist-writer-and-dramatist-asghar-butt-passes-aged-91|archivedate=7 April 2020}}</ref> His father died aged 91 at his hometown Lahore, Punjab, on 13 November 2012.<ref name="Nation"/>

Aziz's mother, Nisar Aziz, was an eminent Urdu novelist and literary figure who belonged to a Pashtun family from Mardan.<ref name="Dawn">{{cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1533113|title=Novelist Nisar Aziz Butt passes away|work=Dawn|date=8 February 2020|accessdate=7 April 2020|first=Xari|last=Jalil}}</ref> She died aged 93 on 7 February 2020.<ref name="Dawn"/> The economist and politician Sartaj Aziz is his maternal uncle.<ref name="Dawn"/><ref name="Nation"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://nation.com.pk/09-Feb-2020/rasm-e-qul-of-nisar-aziz-butt-held|title=Rasm-e-Qul of Nisar Aziz Butt held|work=The Nation|date=9 February 2020|accessdate=7 April 2020|quote=He said that the deceased had played the role of a mother for her brother Senator Sartaj Aziz.}}</ref> ''The Nation'''s editor-in-chief, Majid Nizami, was his father's brother-in-law and thus his uncle.<ref name="Nation"/> Ashar has one brother, Ahmar Aziz Butt, who is a doctor.<ref name="Nation"/><ref name="Dawn"/>

Aziz is a recipient of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.<ref name="SE"/> In 2018, he was presented the civil award ''Sitara-i-Imtiaz'' by the government of Pakistan for his contributions to the IT industry.<ref name="SE"/>

== References ==
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[[Category:American computer scientists]]

{{Sourceattribution|Ashar Aziz}}