Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.
Founders
Gil Shwed, Marius Nacht, Shlomo Kramer · Founded 1993 · HQ today: Ramat Gan / Tel Aviv, Israel
Check Point Software was founded by Gil Shwed, Marius Nacht, Shlomo Kramer in 1993 in Ramat Gan, Israel. It is now led by Nadav Zafrir.
In 1993, Gil Shwed, Marius Nacht, and Shlomo Kramer founded Check Point Software in Ramat Gan, Israel. Drawing on their experience in Israeli intelligence Unit 8200, they recognized that static packet filtering was inadequate for complex corporate networks. In 1994, Shwed invented stateful inspection (US Patent 5,606,668), creating the modern firewall industry.
| Founder | Role at founding | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Gil Shwed | Co-Founder & Former CEO (Executive Chairman) | — |
| Marius Nacht | Co-Founder & Former Chairman | — |
| Shlomo Kramer | Co-Founder & Former VP of Architecture | — |
Gil Shwed co-founded Check Point Software in 1993 in Ramat Gan, Israel, after serving in the Unit 8200 intelligence corps. He invented stateful inspection firewall technology (US Patent 5,606,668), revolutionized network security, and served as CEO for 31 years before transitioning to Executive Chairman in December 2024.
Marius Nacht co-founded Check Point in 1993, driving early commercialization, business development, and strategic partnerships. A prominent Israeli tech entrepreneur and investor, Nacht played a foundational role in scaling Check Point into a global cybersecurity titan.
Shlomo Kramer co-founded Check Point and served as Vice President of Architecture, architecting early firewall inspection engines and cryptographic protocols before going on to found Imperva and Cato Networks.
Nadav Zafrir
Chief Executive Officer
Gil Shwed
Executive Chairman of the Board
Rupesh Chokshi
Chief Marketing Officer
Tal Payne
Chief Financial Officer & Chief Operations Officer
Pali Surdhar
Chief Information Security Officer
Check Point Software was founded in 1993 by visionary industry leaders who identified significant structural inefficiencies in existing marketplace offerings and set out to create a more efficient, customer-focused enterprise.
The founders were inspired by the realization that customers in Cybersecurity & Cloud Security lacked access to transparent, technologically advanced, and cost-effective services, prompting them to develop a superior operational alternative.
In its foundational era, Check Point Software confronted skepticism from traditional incumbents, constrained initial startup capital, and the complex challenge of establishing brand trust and regulatory standing from scratch.
The founding ethos of customer dedication, technical innovation, and conservative financial management remains deeply embedded in Check Point Software's corporate DNA and operational decision-making today.
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