Syam Nair is the Chief Technology Officer at Zscaler, a leading cybersecurity firm. With over 25 years of experience in engineering and product development, Nair has held significant leadership roles at both Salesforce and Microsoft.
Who is the CTO of Zscaler?
With a robust background in engineering and product development, Syam Nair brings over 25 years of experience to his role as Chief Technology Officer at Zscaler. His career includes significant leadership positions at both Salesforce and Microsoft, where he was instrumental in driving strategic innovations and scaling major platforms. At Salesforce, Nair led the development of key products like Salesforce Genie, while at Microsoft, he contributed to the global expansion of Azure data services.
Now at Zscaler, he is focused on expanding the Zero Trust Exchange platform and accelerating AI/ML innovations to scale the company's security cloud.
Work History
Syam Nair's extensive work history includes a variety of significant roles across multiple organizations. Here is a detailed list of his previous positions:
- Zscaler - Chief Technology Officer (2023 - Present)
- Indiana University Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering - Advisor, Dean's Advisory Council (2020 - 2023)
- Riley Children's Foundation - Member, Board of Directors (2021 - 2023)
- Salesforce - Executive Vice President (2019 - 2023)
- Salesforce - Senior Vice President, Engineering (2018 - 2019)
- Salesforce - Senior Vice President, Product Management (2017 - 2018)
- 500 Festival - Member, Board Of Directors (2018 - 2023)
- TechPoint - Board Member, Executive Committee (2020 - 2023)
- Central Indiana Corporate Partnership - Board Member (2020 - 2023)
- Microsoft - Director, Products & Program Management (2014 - 2017)
- Microsoft - Group Program Manager (2010 - 2014)
- Bocada - VP, Product Development (2008 - 2010)
- Microsoft - Development Manager (2002 - 2008)
- At Home Corp - Advanced Software Engineer (2000 - 2002)
- Citadel Inc - Software Engineer (1999 - 2000)
- Aditi Technologies - Software Engineer (1997 - 1999)
Education History
Syam Nair's educational journey is marked by a diverse and robust academic background. He earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus on Strategy and Leadership from the Indiana University - Kelley School of Business. Prior to that, he completed a Master's degree in Computer Science and Applications Engineering from Goa University, where he studied from 1994 to 1997. His foundational education includes a Bachelor's degree in Naval Science and Operational Studies, along with Mathematics and Physics, from the Naval Academy - Indian Navy, which he attended from 1991 to 1994. Additionally, Nair's early education was at Sanik School Kazhakootam, where he studied from 1984 to 1991.
When did Syam Nair join Zscaler?
Joining Zscaler on May 24, 2023, Syam Nair stepped into the role of Chief Technology Officer. With his appointment announced on May 16, 2023, Nair brings a wealth of experience from his previous roles at Salesforce and Microsoft. As of now, he has been with Zscaler for a few months, focusing on driving research and development to expand the Zero Trust Exchange platform and accelerate AI/ML innovations.
His leadership is expected to significantly enhance Zscaler's capabilities in the cybersecurity domain.