Nozomi Networks appoints co-founder Carcano as CEO

Nozomi Networks has appointed co-founder Andrea Carcano as Chief Executive Officer, returning him to the role after a decade under Edgard Capdevielle's leadership.

Capdevielle will become Executive Advisor after overseeing the cybersecurity company's growth to more than AUD $143 million in revenue and its AUD $1.4 billion acquisition by Mitsubishi Electric.

Carcano served as Nozomi's original Chief Executive Officer when he and co-founder Moreno Carullo launched the business. The leadership change returns the operational technology, Internet of Things and cyber-physical systems security company to founder-led management.

The move follows Mitsubishi Electric's acquisition of Nozomi, which was presented as preserving the company's independent operations and vendor-neutral approach. Customer-facing functions, including account teams, support commitments, partner programmes and the product roadmap, will remain unchanged.

During Capdevielle's tenure, Nozomi expanded its reach among major industrial groups. Its customer base includes five of the 10 largest oil and gas companies, seven of the 10 largest pharmaceutical manufacturers and seven of the 10 largest utilities.

Nozomi also highlighted industry recognition from Gartner and Forrester during that period, alongside sustained cash-flow break-even performance after surpassing USD $100 million in annual revenue. It said that made it the first privately held operational technology cybersecurity company to reach that level.

In a statement on the transition, Carcano thanked his predecessor and linked the change to the company's origins.

"Edgard has been an extraordinary partner to Moreno and me for the past decade - on behalf of everyone at Nozomi, thank you, Edgard. Stepping into this role feels like returning to where our story began, only now with the conviction of everything we've proven since: category-defining products, the trust of the world's most critical operators, and market leadership recognised across the industry. Moreno and I built Nozomi side by side from the very first lines of code, and side by side is exactly how we'll lead its next chapter. This is a new Day 1 - the same hunger and audacity that started this company, now with everything it takes to win at the largest scale," said Andrea Carcano, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Nozomi Networks.

Founder return

Nozomi framed the appointment as the start of a new phase under its founders. Carullo, who remains Chief Technology Officer, said artificial intelligence would shape competition across the sector.

"This is the moment our industry has been building toward - where the pace of AI on both sides, attacker and defender, decides who leads. The joy of building what nobody has built before is why Andrea and I started this company, and it's exactly what this next chapter is about," said Moreno Carullo, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Nozomi Networks.

Nozomi said leadership in operational technology and Internet of Things security would increasingly depend on progress in artificial intelligence. It did not announce specific product changes alongside the management transition.

Carcano also said the company's relationships with customers and partners would remain central as the leadership handover takes effect.

"Our commitment to our customers and partners doesn't change today. Everything we do - every product decision, every collaboration, every hire - starts with the outcomes our customers need, and that will be as true a decade from now as it is today," said Carcano.

Advisory role

Capdevielle, who spent 10 years as Chief Executive Officer, will remain involved with the business in an advisory role. His comments stressed continuity as the company enters its next stage under Carcano and Carullo.

"Leading Nozomi through this stage of its journey has been the honour of my career. Andrea and Moreno built something extraordinary, and I'm proud of what we accomplished together. I'm looking forward to continuing to support the team as an advisor while returning to what I love most - helping early-stage companies find their way. Nozomi's best chapter is the one that starts today," said Edgard Capdevielle, Executive Advisor, Nozomi Networks.