Robert (Bob) VanKirk

Bob VanKirk serves as SonicWall’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Under Bob’s tenure, the company has transformed into a cybersecurity leader with a focus on delivering world-class solutions and services via SonicWall’s extensive partner base. Taking an outside-in approach and under Bob’s leadership, each function across the business has transformed to position SonicWall as the cybersecurity vendor of choice for MSPs and MSSPs, delivering new cloud-native solutions, offering key managed security services backed by 24x7x365 security operations centers (SOCs), extending world-class support with direct access to Tier 2 resources, providing flexible monthly billing options, and creating a market-leading partner program designed to support, enable and meet partners where they are on their journey. This has resulted in breakout growth across SonicWall’s new cloud and managed security services businesses, underpinned by strong MSP and MSSP partner growth.

Prior to his current role, Bob was SonicWall’s Senior Vice President and Chief Revenue Office, where he was responsible for SonicWall’s go-to-market structure and alignment, increasing sales effectiveness and efficiency. Under Bob’s leadership, the team implemented KPIs and new sales processes across the business, moving from overlapping quotas and territories to unique, targeted partner and customer accounts, clear responsibility, and greater accountability, resulting in strong growth.

Prior to joining SonicWall, Bob was the Executive Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing with Silent Circle and Senior Vice President of Americas Sales and Service at Entrust. Bob received a bachelor’s degree from Davidson College and master’s degrees from North Carolina State University.