George Kurtz: Difference between revisions

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| image        = George-kurtz-speaking.png
| image        = George-kurtz-speaking.png
| alt          = George Kurtz, co-founder and CEO of CrowdStrike
| alt          = George Kurtz, co-founder and CEO of CrowdStrike
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1970|10|14}}
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1970|10|14}}
| birth_place  = [[New Jersey]], U.S.
| birth_place  = [[New Jersey]], U.S.
| nationality  = American
| nationality  = American
| alma_mater  = [[Seton Hall University]] (BS)
| alma_mater  = [[Seton Hall University]] (BS)
| occupation  = CEO and co-founder of [[CrowdStrike]]; co-owner and strategic advisor of [[Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team]]; racing driver
| occupation  = CEO and co-founder of [[CrowdStrike]]; co-owner and strategic advisor, [[Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team]]; racing driver
| known_for    = Co-founding CrowdStrike; co-authoring ''Hacking Exposed''; founding Foundstone
| known_for    = Co-founding [[CrowdStrike]]; co-authoring ''Hacking Exposed''; founding [[Foundstone]]
| awards      = ''Fortune'' 100 Most Powerful People in Business (2024)
| awards      = ''Fortune'' 100 Most Powerful People in Business (2024)
| website      = {{URL|https://www.crowdstrike.com/george-kurtz/}}
| website      = {{URL|https://www.crowdstrike.com/george-kurtz/}}
}}
}}


'''George Kurtz''' (born October 14, 1970) is an American entrepreneur, cybersecurity executive, and racing driver who serves as the chief executive officer and co-founder of [[CrowdStrike]], one of the largest cybersecurity technology companies in the world. His career in information security spans more than three decades, beginning with early work in vulnerability assessment and penetration testing, and extending through leadership roles at [[Foundstone]] and [[McAfee]] before the creation of CrowdStrike in 2011. Kurtz co-authored ''Hacking Exposed: Network Security Secrets & Solutions'', a widely referenced cybersecurity text that helped shape industry practices in vulnerability management and penetration testing. Prior to CrowdStrike, he founded Foundstone, a security consulting and products firm that was acquired by McAfee in 2004, after which Kurtz rose to the position of chief technology officer at McAfee.<ref name="eweek">{{cite web |title=McAfee Buys Security Consulting Firm Foundstone |url=http://www.eweek.com/security/mcafee-buys-security-consulting-firm-foundstone |publisher=eWeek |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref><ref name="channeltimes">{{cite web |title=McAfee Names George Kurtz EVP and CTO |url=http://www.channeltimes.com/story/mcafee-names-george-kurtz-evp-and-cto/ |publisher=ChannelTimes |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> In November 2025, Kurtz became a co-owner of the [[Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team]], serving as a technology adviser and steering-committee member.<ref name="cnbc-mercedes">{{cite news |title=Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff sells a piece of his ownership stake to CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/20/mercedes-f1-toto-wolff-ownership-crowdstrike-ceo-george-kurtz.html |work=CNBC |date=2025-11-20 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> Outside of the corporate world, Kurtz is a [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|FIA]] Bronze-rated racing driver who has competed in endurance events including the [[24 Hours of Le Mans]] and the [[24 Hours of Spa]].
'''George Kurtz''' (born October 14, 1970) is an American entrepreneur, businessman, and cybersecurity executive who serves as the chief executive officer and co-founder of [[CrowdStrike]], a publicly traded cybersecurity technology company headquartered in Austin, Texas. A central figure in the modern cybersecurity industry, Kurtz built his career across several decades of work in information security, beginning with his founding of [[Foundstone]], a security consulting and products firm, and continuing through a tenure as chief technology officer of [[McAfee]]. He is also the co-author of ''Hacking Exposed: Network Security Secrets & Solutions'', a widely referenced book in the field of vulnerability assessment and penetration testing. Beyond the technology sector, Kurtz is a [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|FIA]] Bronze-rated racing driver who has competed in endurance events including the [[24 Hours of Le Mans]] and the [[24 Hours of Spa]]. In November 2025, Kurtz became a co-owner of the [[Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team]], acquiring a minority stake from team principal [[Toto Wolff]] and taking on a role as technology adviser and steering-committee member.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2025-11-20 |title=Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff sells a piece of his ownership stake to CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/20/mercedes-f1-toto-wolff-ownership-crowdstrike-ceo-george-kurtz.html |work=CNBC |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> In 2024, ''Fortune'' magazine named Kurtz one of the "100 Most Powerful People in Business."<ref name="fortune2015">{{cite web |title=CrowdStrike: The $1 Billion Cybersecurity Startup |url=http://fortune.com/2015/07/29/crowdstrike-cybersecurity-george-kurtz/ |publisher=Fortune |date=2015-07-29 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


== Early Life ==
== Early Life ==


George Kurtz was born on October 14, 1970, in [[New Jersey]].<ref name="app">{{cite news |title=Parsippany native leads charge on cyber attacks |url=https://www.app.com/story/money/business/2014/12/29/parsippany-native-leads-charge-cyber-attacks/21031169/ |work=Asbury Park Press |date=2014-12-29 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> He grew up in the [[Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey|Parsippany]] area of northern New Jersey. Details about his family background and childhood have not been extensively documented in public sources. According to a 2014 profile in the ''Asbury Park Press'', Kurtz developed an interest in computers and security technology at an early age, an interest that would eventually guide his academic and professional trajectory into the nascent field of information security.<ref name="app" />
George Kurtz was born on October 14, 1970, in [[New Jersey]].<ref name="app">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2014-12-29 |title=Parsippany native leads charge against cyber attacks |url=https://www.app.com/story/money/business/2014/12/29/parsippany-native-leads-charge-cyber-attacks/21031169/ |work=Asbury Park Press |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> He grew up in [[Parsippany, New Jersey|Parsippany]], a suburban community in [[Morris County, New Jersey|Morris County]]. Kurtz developed an early interest in technology and computing, which would later direct the trajectory of his professional life. Details about his family background and upbringing remain largely private, though Kurtz has been described in local New Jersey media as a "Parsippany native" who went on to become a prominent figure in the cybersecurity industry.<ref name="app" />


Kurtz came of age during a period in which personal computing was transforming both business and culture, and cybersecurity as a formal discipline was still in its infancy. His early fascination with technology led him to pursue formal education in a related field, and he would go on to build his career at the intersection of technology, security, and entrepreneurship.
Kurtz's formative years coincided with the growth of personal computing in the 1980s and the emergence of the internet in the early 1990s, a period that shaped an entire generation of technology entrepreneurs. His interest in the security dimensions of computing would become the defining thread of his career, eventually leading him to build multiple companies and author influential texts in the cybersecurity field.


== Education ==
== Education ==


Kurtz attended [[Seton Hall University]] in [[South Orange, New Jersey]], where he earned a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree.<ref name="crowdstrike-bio">{{cite web |title=George Kurtz |url=https://www.crowdstrike.com/george-kurtz/ |publisher=CrowdStrike |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> His studies provided a foundation in the technical and analytical skills that would underpin his subsequent work in cybersecurity. After completing his undergraduate education, Kurtz entered the information security industry, initially working in accounting and consulting roles before focusing on security technology and vulnerability assessment.<ref name="app" />
Kurtz attended [[Seton Hall University]] in [[South Orange, New Jersey]], where he earned a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree.<ref name="crowdstrike-bio">{{cite web |title=George Kurtz — CrowdStrike |url=https://www.crowdstrike.com/george-kurtz/ |publisher=CrowdStrike |date= |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> Seton Hall, a private Catholic university, provided Kurtz with a foundation in accounting and business that would prove useful throughout his career in technology entrepreneurship. His education equipped him with both technical knowledge and business acumen, a combination that distinguished him in the cybersecurity field, where many practitioners came from purely technical backgrounds.


== Career ==
== Career ==
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=== Early Career and Foundstone ===
=== Early Career and Foundstone ===


Kurtz began his professional career as a certified public accountant (CPA), working at [[PricewaterhouseCoopers]] before transitioning into the cybersecurity field.<ref name="app" /> During the late 1990s, he became involved in security research and consulting, and co-authored ''Hacking Exposed: Network Security Secrets & Solutions'', a book that became one of the most widely referenced texts in the cybersecurity profession. The book addressed vulnerability assessment and penetration testing methodologies and helped define practices that became standard in the industry.
Kurtz began his career in cybersecurity during the 1990s, a period when the field was still in its nascent stages. He became involved in security consulting and vulnerability assessment at a time when many organizations were only beginning to understand the risks posed by networked computing environments. Kurtz is credited with helping to create the field of vulnerability management and with defining terminology, workflows, and services that remain central to cybersecurity practice.<ref name="crowdstrike-bio" />


Kurtz founded Foundstone, a cybersecurity consulting and products company that specialized in vulnerability management, incident response, and security training. Foundstone developed tools and services that assisted organizations in identifying and remediating security weaknesses across their networks. The company gained recognition for its contributions to the emerging field of vulnerability management, and Kurtz has been credited with helping to create the conceptual framework, terminology, and workflows that became central to the discipline.<ref name="crowdstrike-bio" />
During this period, Kurtz co-authored ''Hacking Exposed: Network Security Secrets & Solutions'', a book that became one of the most referenced texts in the cybersecurity field. The book provided detailed guidance on vulnerability assessment and penetration testing methodologies and helped shape best practices across the industry. It went through multiple editions and became a standard reference for both security professionals and students of information security.


In 2004, [[McAfee]] (now part of [[Intel Security]] and later re-established as McAfee) acquired Foundstone, incorporating its vulnerability management capabilities into McAfee's broader product portfolio.<ref name="eweek" /> The acquisition marked the beginning of a new phase in Kurtz's career within one of the largest security software companies in the world.
Kurtz founded '''Foundstone''', a security products and consulting company that specialized in vulnerability management, incident response, and security training. Foundstone developed a suite of tools and services aimed at helping enterprises identify and remediate security weaknesses in their networks and applications. The company gained a strong reputation in the cybersecurity community and attracted the attention of larger technology firms seeking to bolster their security offerings.
 
In 2004, [[McAfee]], one of the largest antivirus and security software companies in the world, acquired Foundstone.<ref name="eweek">{{cite web |title=McAfee Buys Security Consulting Firm Foundstone |url=http://www.eweek.com/security/mcafee-buys-security-consulting-firm-foundstone |publisher=eWeek |date= |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The acquisition integrated Foundstone's vulnerability management capabilities into McAfee's broader security portfolio and marked a significant milestone in Kurtz's career, transitioning him from startup founder to executive at a major technology corporation.


=== McAfee ===
=== McAfee ===


Following the acquisition of Foundstone, Kurtz joined McAfee and rose through the company's leadership ranks. He was named executive vice president and chief technology officer of McAfee, a role in which he oversaw the company's technology strategy and product development.<ref name="channeltimes" /> During his tenure as CTO, Kurtz became a prominent voice in the cybersecurity industry, commenting publicly on emerging threats and the evolving landscape of cyber attacks.
Following McAfee's acquisition of Foundstone, Kurtz took on increasingly senior roles within the company. He was eventually named executive vice president and chief technology officer of McAfee,<ref name="channeltimes">{{cite web |title=McAfee names George Kurtz EVP and CTO |url=http://www.channeltimes.com/story/mcafee-names-george-kurtz-evp-and-cto/ |publisher=ChannelTimes |date= |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> one of the most prominent positions in the cybersecurity industry at the time. As CTO, Kurtz was responsible for overseeing the company's technology strategy and product direction.


In 2010, Kurtz was involved in McAfee's response to high-profile attacks, including a series of intrusions known as "[[Operation Aurora]]" that targeted major corporations including [[Google]]. In an interview with ''GCN'' (Government Computer News), Kurtz discussed the implications of these attacks and the need for more sophisticated security architectures.<ref name="gcn">{{cite web |title=Interview: George Kurtz, McAfee, on Google attacks |url=https://gcn.com/articles/2010/09/06/interview-george-kurtz-mcafee-google-attacks.aspx |publisher=GCN |date=2010-09-06 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> He also raised awareness about a threat campaign dubbed "Night Dragon," which targeted energy companies, warning about the emergence of combined and persistent cyber threats.<ref name="scmagazine">{{cite web |title=McAfee CTO warns of new combined threat named Night Dragon |url=https://www.scmagazineuk.com/mcafee-cto-warns-of-new-combined-threat-named-night-dragon/article/561459 |publisher=SC Magazine UK |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
During his tenure at McAfee, Kurtz became a prominent public voice on cybersecurity threats and trends. He spoke publicly about emerging threats, including a campaign he referred to as "Night Dragon," which targeted global energy and petrochemical companies through a combination of social engineering, Windows exploits, and remote administration tools.<ref>{{cite web |title=McAfee CTO warns of new combined threat named Night Dragon |url=https://www.scmagazineuk.com/mcafee-cto-warns-of-new-combined-threat-named-night-dragon/article/561459/ |publisher=SC Magazine UK |date= |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> He also commented publicly on the sophisticated cyberattacks against [[Google]] and other major corporations that became known as [[Operation Aurora]], discussing the implications for enterprise security.<ref>{{cite web |title=Interview: George Kurtz, McAfee, on Google attacks |url=https://gcn.com/articles/2010/09/06/interview-george-kurtz-mcafee-google-attacks.aspx |publisher=GCN |date=2010-09-06 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


Kurtz departed McAfee in October 2011.<ref name="reuters-depart">{{cite news |title=McAfee loses high-profile researcher and CTO |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mcafee-departures/mcafee-loses-high-profile-researcher-and-cto-idUSTRE79H63Y20111018 |work=Reuters |date=2011-10-18 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref><ref name="crn-cto">{{cite news |title=McAfee Looking for New CTO After Kurtz Steps Down |url=http://www.crn.com/news/security/231901092/mcafee-looking-for-new-cto-after-kurtz-steps-down.htm |work=CRN |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> His exit from the company, along with other senior departures during the same period, was noted by industry observers as a significant transition for McAfee.<ref name="reuters-depart" />
Kurtz stepped down from his position as CTO of McAfee in October 2011.<ref name="mcafee-departure">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2011-10-18 |title=McAfee loses high-profile researcher and CTO |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mcafee-departures/mcafee-loses-high-profile-researcher-and-cto-idUSTRE79H63Y20111018 |work=Reuters |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> His departure, along with that of other high-profile security researchers at the company, was noted in the industry press. Kurtz's time at McAfee had given him deep insight into both the strengths and limitations of traditional, signature-based approaches to cybersecurity — experiences that would directly inform his next venture.


=== Founding of CrowdStrike ===
=== Founding of CrowdStrike ===


In 2011, Kurtz co-founded [[CrowdStrike]] alongside Dmitri Alperovitch and Gregg Marston. The company was officially launched in February 2012 with $26 million in initial funding.<ref name="techcrunch">{{cite news |title=Former McAfee CTO Debuts Stealthy Security Technology Startup CrowdStrike With $26M In Funding |url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/02/23/former-mcafee-cto-debuts-stealthy-security-technology-startup-crowdstrike-with-26m-in-funding/ |work=TechCrunch |date=2012-02-23 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref><ref name="reuters-start">{{cite news |title=Ex-McAfee execs start security firm CrowdStrike |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-security-startup/ex-mcafee-execs-start-security-firm-crowdstrike-idUSTRE81M21Q20120223 |work=Reuters |date=2012-02-23 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The company emerged from stealth mode with the stated mission of transforming cybersecurity through a cloud-native platform that could detect and prevent breaches in real time, leveraging artificial intelligence, behavioral analytics, and threat intelligence.
In February 2012, Kurtz co-founded '''[[CrowdStrike]]''' alongside [[Dmitri Alperovitch]] and Gregg Marston. The company launched out of stealth mode with $26 million in funding, an unusually large sum for a cybersecurity startup at the time.<ref name="techcrunch">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2012-02-23 |title=Former McAfee CTO Debuts Stealthy Security Technology Startup CrowdStrike With $26M In Funding |url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/02/23/former-mcafee-cto-debuts-stealthy-security-technology-startup-crowdstrike-with-26m-in-funding/ |work=TechCrunch |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref><ref name="reuters-founding">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2012-02-23 |title=Ex-McAfee execs start security firm CrowdStrike |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-security-startup/ex-mcafee-execs-start-security-firm-crowdstrike-idUSTRE81M21Q20120223 |work=Reuters |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The founding thesis of CrowdStrike was rooted in Kurtz's conviction, developed during his years at McAfee, that the traditional approach to cybersecurity — relying on signature-based detection and on-premises hardware — was fundamentally insufficient against the increasingly sophisticated threat actors targeting enterprises and governments.


Kurtz and his co-founders conceived CrowdStrike as a response to what they saw as fundamental limitations in existing cybersecurity approaches, particularly the reliance on signature-based antivirus software and on-premises security infrastructure. As Kurtz described in a 2012 interview with ''GeekWire'', the company aimed to "obliterate" security threats through a fundamentally different architectural approach.<ref name="geekwire">{{cite news |title=Stealthy CrowdStrike to obliterate security threats, raises $26M |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2012/stealthy-crowdstrike-obliterate-security-threats-raises-26m/ |work=GeekWire |date=2012-02-23 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The company's [[Falcon (CrowdStrike)|Falcon]] platform was built as a cloud-delivered solution, representing a departure from the traditional model of deploying on-premises security appliances and software.
CrowdStrike's approach was built around a cloud-native architecture, using a lightweight agent deployed on endpoints that fed data to a centralized cloud platform for analysis. This represented a significant departure from the legacy model of deploying heavy, locally installed antivirus software and on-premises security appliances. The company's platform, known as '''Falcon''', leveraged artificial intelligence and behavioral analysis to detect and prevent threats, rather than relying on databases of known malware signatures.<ref name="geekwire">{{cite web |title=Stealthy CrowdStrike aims to obliterate security threats, raises $26M |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2012/stealthy-crowdstrike-obliterate-security-threats-raises-26m/ |publisher=GeekWire |date=2012-02-23 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


CrowdStrike gained public attention through its involvement in several notable cybersecurity investigations, including the analysis of the 2014 [[Sony Pictures Entertainment hack]] and the 2016 [[Democratic National Committee email leak|breach of the Democratic National Committee's email systems]]. These high-profile engagements raised the company's profile and established it as a significant player in the threat intelligence and incident response market.
Kurtz's leadership helped position CrowdStrike as one of the fastest-growing companies in the cybersecurity sector. By 2017, CrowdStrike had achieved [[unicorn (finance)|unicorn]] status, with a valuation exceeding $1 billion.<ref name="forbes-unicorn">{{cite news |last=High |first=Peter |date=2017-05-23 |title=The CEO Of The World's Newest Unicorn On How To Secure Your Enterprise |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterhigh/2017/05/23/the-ceo-of-the-worlds-newest-unicorn-on-how-to-secure-your-enterprise/#415db24853ee |work=Forbes |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> Kurtz articulated the company's strategy as a platform consolidation play, arguing that enterprises needed to move away from a patchwork of point security products toward a unified platform capable of addressing multiple security domains.


=== CrowdStrike's Growth and IPO ===
=== CrowdStrike IPO and Growth ===


Under Kurtz's leadership, CrowdStrike grew rapidly, attracting significant venture capital investment and expanding its customer base among enterprise and government clients. In 2017, ''Forbes'' profiled the company after it achieved unicorn status—a private-company valuation exceeding $1 billion—with Kurtz discussing the company's strategy for securing enterprise environments.<ref name="forbes">{{cite news |last=High |first=Peter |title=The CEO Of The World's Newest Unicorn On How To Secure Your Enterprise |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterhigh/2017/05/23/the-ceo-of-the-worlds-newest-unicorn-on-how-to-secure-your-enterprise/#415db24853ee |work=Forbes |date=2017-05-23 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
CrowdStrike went public on June 12, 2019, trading on the [[Nasdaq]] under the ticker symbol CRWD. The [[initial public offering]] sought to raise approximately $100 million and attracted significant investor interest.<ref name="crn-ipo">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2019-06-12 |title=CrowdStrike IPO Seeks To Raise $100M, Reveals Strength Of Channel |url=https://www.crn.com/news/security/crowdstrike-ipo-seeks-to-raise-100m-reveals-strength-of-channel |work=CRN |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref><ref name="bizjournals-ipo">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2019-06-12 |title=CrowdStrike IPO |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2019/06/12/crowdstrike-ipo-crwd-george-kurtz.html |work=Silicon Valley Business Journal |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The company's stock performed strongly in its early days of trading, reflecting investor enthusiasm for cloud-based cybersecurity platforms.


CrowdStrike completed its [[initial public offering]] (IPO) on June 12, 2019, trading on the [[Nasdaq]] under the ticker symbol CRWD. The IPO initially sought to raise approximately $100 million.<ref name="crn-ipo">{{cite news |title=CrowdStrike IPO Seeks to Raise $100M, Reveals Strength of Channel |url=https://www.crn.com/news/security/crowdstrike-ipo-seeks-to-raise-100m-reveals-strength-of-channel |work=CRN |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The offering was received with significant interest from investors, and shares rose substantially on their first day of trading.<ref name="bizjournals">{{cite news |title=CrowdStrike IPO: CRWD, George Kurtz |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2019/06/12/crowdstrike-ipo-crwd-george-kurtz.html |work=Silicon Valley Business Journal |date=2019-06-12 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
Under Kurtz's leadership as CEO, CrowdStrike expanded its product portfolio beyond its initial endpoint protection focus. The Falcon platform grew to encompass threat intelligence, incident response, IT hygiene, and cloud workload protection, among other capabilities. The company was recognized by multiple industry analyst firms as a leading endpoint security vendor on a global scale.<ref>{{cite web |title=CrowdStrike recognised as leading endpoint security vendor on global scale |url=https://securitybrief.eu/story/crowdstrike-recognised-as-leading-endpoint-security-vendor-on-global-scale |publisher=SecurityBrief |date= |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> CRN named CrowdStrike among the "10 Hot Cybersecurity Companies to Watch" in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=10 Hot Cybersecurity Companies To Watch In 2020 |url=https://www.crn.com/slide-shows/security/10-hot-cybersecurity-companies-to-watch-in-2020/3 |publisher=CRN |date=2020 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


Following the IPO, CrowdStrike continued to expand its platform offerings and market presence. The company was recognized as a leading endpoint security vendor on a global scale by industry analysts.<ref name="securitybrief">{{cite web |title=CrowdStrike recognised as leading endpoint security vendor on global scale |url=https://securitybrief.eu/story/crowdstrike-recognised-as-leading-endpoint-security-vendor-on-global-scale |publisher=SecurityBrief |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> CRN included CrowdStrike among its list of hot cybersecurity companies to watch in 2020.<ref name="crn-hot">{{cite news |title=10 Hot Cybersecurity Companies To Watch In 2020 |url=https://www.crn.com/slide-shows/security/10-hot-cybersecurity-companies-to-watch-in-2020/3 |work=CRN |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> A 2015 ''Fortune'' feature had earlier highlighted Kurtz's role in building CrowdStrike's cybersecurity capabilities.<ref name="fortune">{{cite news |title=CrowdStrike Cybersecurity: George Kurtz |url=http://fortune.com/2015/07/29/crowdstrike-cybersecurity-george-kurtz/ |work=Fortune |date=2015-07-29 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
Kurtz continued to champion the concept of platform consolidation as a strategy for both CrowdStrike and the broader cybersecurity market. In late 2025, he discussed the company's partnership with [[Amazon Web Services]] (AWS), the "Falcon Flex" licensing model, and what he described as "incredibly important" partner-related initiatives aimed at accelerating the adoption of the CrowdStrike platform across enterprise customers.<ref name="crn-aws">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2025-11-20 |title=CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz On AWS, Falcon Flex And 'Incredibly Important' Partner Moves |url=https://www.crn.com/news/security/2025/crowdstrike-ceo-george-kurtz-on-aws-falcon-flex-and-incredibly-important-partner-moves |work=CRN |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


=== 2024 Global IT Outage ===
=== 2024 Global IT Outage ===


In July 2024, CrowdStrike released a software update to its Falcon sensor product that caused widespread disruptions to [[Microsoft Windows]] systems globally. The incident, which resulted from a faulty content update that triggered [[blue screen of death]] errors on affected machines, has been described as the largest outage in the history of information technology. Millions of systems were impacted across industries including aviation, healthcare, banking, and government services. As CEO, Kurtz faced significant public scrutiny and was called to account for the incident. The event prompted discussions across the technology industry about software update processes, quality assurance protocols, and the concentration of risk in cybersecurity supply chains.
In July 2024, CrowdStrike released a software update to its Falcon platform that caused widespread disruption to millions of [[Microsoft Windows]] systems around the world. The incident, which resulted from a faulty content update pushed to CrowdStrike's Falcon sensor, caused affected systems to crash and display the [[Blue Screen of Death]]. The event impacted airlines, hospitals, financial institutions, and numerous other organizations globally, and has been described as the largest outage in the history of information technology.


=== Platform Strategy and Agentic AI ===
As CEO, Kurtz became the public face of CrowdStrike's response to the crisis. The incident drew intense scrutiny from customers, regulators, and the media, and raised questions about the risks associated with the centralized, cloud-based security architecture that CrowdStrike had pioneered. The company undertook remediation efforts and publicly committed to changes in its update deployment processes.


In 2025 and 2026, Kurtz continued to lead CrowdStrike's strategic direction, with a particular emphasis on platform consolidation and the integration of artificial intelligence into cybersecurity operations. At CrowdStrike's annual Fal.Con conference in September 2025, Kurtz delivered a keynote outlining the company's product strategy and vision.<ref name="falcon-keynote">{{cite web |title=Day 1 Fal.Con Keynote - George Kurtz, CEO and Founder |url=https://ir.crowdstrike.com/events/event-details/day-1-falcon-keynote-george-kurtz-ceo-and-founder-0/ |publisher=CrowdStrike |date=2025-09-17 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
=== Agentic AI and Recent Developments ===


In November 2025, Kurtz discussed CrowdStrike's partnership with [[Amazon Web Services]] (AWS) and the company's Falcon Flex licensing model, as well as what he characterized as "incredibly important" moves involving the company's channel partner ecosystem.<ref name="crn-aws">{{cite news |title=CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz On AWS, Falcon Flex And 'Incredibly Important' Partner Moves |url=https://www.crn.com/news/security/2025/crowdstrike-ceo-george-kurtz-on-aws-falcon-flex-and-incredibly-important-partner-moves |work=CRN |date=2025-11-20 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
In early 2026, Kurtz continued to articulate a forward-looking vision for CrowdStrike, describing 2026 as a "breakout year" for the "Agentic SOC" — a concept referring to the use of agentic artificial intelligence to automate and augment Security Operations Center (SOC) functions.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2026-01-27 |title=CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz: 2026 Is 'Breakout Year' For Agentic SOC |url=https://www.crn.com/news/security/2026/crowdstrike-ceo-george-kurtz-2026-is-breakout-year-for-agentic-soc |work=CRN |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


In early 2026, Kurtz described the year as a "breakout year" for the agentic Security Operations Center (SOC), referring to the use of AI-driven autonomous agents to assist security analysts in detecting and responding to threats. He outlined CrowdStrike's investments in agentic AI capabilities designed to automate and accelerate SOC workflows.<ref name="crn-agentic">{{cite news |title=CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz: 2026 Is 'Breakout Year' For Agentic SOC |url=https://www.crn.com/news/security/2026/crowdstrike-ceo-george-kurtz-2026-is-breakout-year-for-agentic-soc |work=CRN |date=2026-01 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
In February 2026, CrowdStrike's stock experienced a decline following the launch of a new AI-powered security tool by [[Anthropic]], which sparked concerns among investors about potential disruption to established cybersecurity companies. Kurtz publicly responded to the concerns, pushing back on fears that AI tools could replace CrowdStrike's platform.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2026-02-24 |title=After Anthropic's new AI tool launch wipes millions from CrowdStrike's market value, CEO George Kurtz shares Claude AI's reply when asked to build a CrowdStrike replacement |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/after-anthropics-new-ai-tool-launch-wipes-millions-from-crowdstrikes-market-value-ceo-george-kurtz-shares-claude-ais-reply-when-asked-to-build-a-crowdstrike-replacement/articleshow/128740101.cms |work=The Times of India |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2026-02-23 |title=Cybersecurity stocks drop for a second day as new Anthropic tool fuels AI disruption fears |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/23/cybersecurity-stocks-anthropic-ai-crowdstrike.html |work=CNBC |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
 
In February 2026, CrowdStrike's stock experienced a significant decline following the launch of a new AI-powered security tool by [[Anthropic]], which prompted investor concern about potential disruption to traditional cybersecurity business models. Kurtz publicly responded to the concerns, challenging the notion that AI tools could readily replicate CrowdStrike's capabilities.<ref name="toi-anthropic">{{cite news |title=After Anthropic's new AI tool launch wipes millions from CrowdStrike's market value, CEO George Kurtz shares Claude AI's reply when asked to build a CrowdStrike replacement |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/after-anthropics-new-ai-tool-launch-wipes-millions-from-crowdstrikes-market-value-ceo-george-kurtz-shares-claude-ais-reply-when-asked-to-build-a-crowdstrike-replacement/articleshow/128740101.cms |work=The Times of India |date=2026-02-24 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref><ref name="cnbc-anthropic">{{cite news |title=Cybersecurity stocks drop for a second day as new Anthropic tool fuels AI disruption fears |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/23/cybersecurity-stocks-anthropic-ai-crowdstrike.html |work=CNBC |date=2026-02-23 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref><ref name="yahoo-anthropic">{{cite news |title=CrowdStrike Hits Oversold Territory on Anthropic AI Launch. Should You Buy CRWD Stock on the Dip? |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/crowdstrike-hits-oversold-territory-anthropic-205906832.html |work=Yahoo Finance |date=2026-02-24 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


== Personal Life ==
== Personal Life ==
Line 77: Line 77:
=== Motorsport ===
=== Motorsport ===


Outside of his corporate career, Kurtz is an active motorsport competitor. He holds a [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|FIA]] Bronze driver rating and competes in endurance sports car racing. Kurtz has participated in some of the most prominent events in international motorsport, including winning the Pro-Am class at the [[24 Hours of Le Mans]] and the [[24 Hours of Spa]].<ref name="crowdstrike-bio" />
Outside of his business career, Kurtz is an accomplished amateur racing driver. He holds an [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|FIA]] Bronze rating and has competed in some of the most prestigious endurance racing events in the world. Kurtz has won the Pro-Am class at both the [[24 Hours of Le Mans]] and the [[24 Hours of Spa]], two of the most demanding races on the international motorsport calendar.<ref name="motorsport">{{cite web |title=Utah PWC: James delivers fourth GTS win for Panoz |url=https://www.motorsport.com/pwc/news/utah-pwc-james-delivers-fourth-gts-win-for-panoz-941079/ |publisher=Motorsport.com |date= |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref><ref name="speedsport">{{cite web |title=George Kurtz — Pirelli Challenge |url=https://speedsport.com/road-racing/other-road-racing/george-kurtz-pirelli-challenge/2/ |publisher=Speed Sport |date= |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
 
In the United States, Kurtz has competed in the [[Pirelli World Challenge]] (now SRO America), racing in the GTS class. Coverage from ''SpeedSport'' and ''Sportscar365'' has documented his participation in various Pirelli Challenge events.<ref name="speedsport">{{cite web |title=George Kurtz Pirelli Challenge |url=https://speedsport.com/road-racing/other-road-racing/george-kurtz-pirelli-challenge/2/ |publisher=SpeedSport |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref><ref name="sportscar365">{{cite web |title=Pirelli Paddock Pass: George Kurtz |url=https://sportscar365.com/sro/sro-america/world-challenge-america/pirelli-paddock-pass-george-kurtz-2/ |publisher=Sportscar365 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> He has also raced in events at [[Utah Motorsports Campus]], with ''Motorsport.com'' covering his participation in the GTS category of the Pirelli World Challenge.<ref name="motorsport">{{cite web |title=Utah PWC: James delivers fourth GTS win for Panoz |url=https://www.motorsport.com/pwc/news/utah-pwc-james-delivers-fourth-gts-win-for-panoz-941079/ |publisher=Motorsport.com |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
 
=== Mercedes F1 Co-Ownership ===


In November 2025, Kurtz acquired a minority ownership stake in the [[Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team]] from team principal [[Toto Wolff]]. As part of the arrangement, Kurtz took on the roles of technology adviser and steering-committee member for the team, which was valued at approximately $6 billion at the time of the transaction. The deal was announced during the [[2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix]] weekend.<ref name="cnbc-mercedes" /><ref name="nytimes-mercedes">{{cite news |title=CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz becomes Mercedes F1 co-owner, team valued at $6bn |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6824455/2025/11/20/george-kurtz-mercedes-sale-f1/ |work=The New York Times (The Athletic) |date=2025-11-20 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
Kurtz has competed in the [[Pirelli World Challenge]] (now SRO America) series in the United States, racing in the GTS class.<ref name="sportscar365">{{cite web |title=Pirelli Paddock Pass: George Kurtz |url=https://sportscar365.com/sro/sro-america/world-challenge-america/pirelli-paddock-pass-george-kurtz-2/ |publisher=Sportscar365 |date= |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> His involvement in motorsport extends beyond driving; in November 2025, Kurtz acquired a minority ownership stake in the [[Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team]] from team principal [[Toto Wolff]]. As part of the deal, which valued the Mercedes F1 team at approximately $6 billion, Kurtz took on the role of technology adviser and steering-committee member.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2025-11-20 |title=CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz becomes Mercedes F1 co-owner, team valued at $6bn |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6824455/2025/11/20/george-kurtz-mercedes-sale-f1/ |work=The New York Times / The Athletic |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2025-11-20 |title=Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff sells a piece of his ownership stake to CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/20/mercedes-f1-toto-wolff-ownership-crowdstrike-ceo-george-kurtz.html |work=CNBC |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> CrowdStrike had previously served as a sponsor of the Mercedes F1 team, and Kurtz's acquisition of an ownership stake deepened the relationship between the cybersecurity firm and the motorsport organization.


=== Real Estate ===
=== Real Estate ===


Kurtz is also involved in real estate development, owning and developing projects in [[Scottsdale, Arizona]], and elsewhere in the [[Southwestern United States]].
Kurtz owns and develops real estate projects in [[Scottsdale, Arizona]], and elsewhere in the southwestern United States.<ref name="app" />


== Recognition ==
== Recognition ==


Kurtz has received recognition from multiple business and technology publications over the course of his career. In 2024, ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'' magazine named him one of the "100 Most Powerful People in Business," reflecting CrowdStrike's growth into one of the most prominent cybersecurity companies in the world.
Kurtz has received recognition from multiple industry and business publications over the course of his career. In 2024, ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'' magazine named him one of the "100 Most Powerful People in Business," reflecting his influence as the head of one of the largest publicly traded cybersecurity companies in the world.


His co-authorship of ''Hacking Exposed: Network Security Secrets & Solutions'' established him as an authority in cybersecurity literature. The book, which has gone through multiple editions, has been credited with influencing best practices in vulnerability assessment and penetration testing and is used as a reference in cybersecurity education and professional training programs.<ref name="crowdstrike-bio" />
CrowdStrike under Kurtz's leadership has received numerous industry awards and analyst recognitions. The company has been positioned as a leader in endpoint security by major analyst firms and was named among CRN's "10 Hot Cybersecurity Companies to Watch" in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=10 Hot Cybersecurity Companies To Watch In 2020 |url=https://www.crn.com/slide-shows/security/10-hot-cybersecurity-companies-to-watch-in-2020/3 |publisher=CRN |date=2020 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


CrowdStrike under Kurtz's leadership has been recognized by multiple industry analyst firms and publications. The company was identified as a leading endpoint security vendor on a global scale,<ref name="securitybrief" /> and was named among the hot cybersecurity companies to watch by CRN.<ref name="crn-hot" /> These recognitions reflect the company's competitive position in the cybersecurity market during Kurtz's tenure as CEO.
Kurtz's co-authorship of ''Hacking Exposed: Network Security Secrets & Solutions'' has been recognized as a significant contribution to the cybersecurity literature. The book, which went through multiple editions, has been used as a reference and training resource by security professionals and academic institutions.


Kurtz's involvement in motorsport has also brought him recognition in the racing community, with his Pro-Am class victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Spa representing notable achievements for a gentleman driver who balances competitive racing with executive responsibilities.
In the motorsport world, Kurtz's Pro-Am class victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Spa represent notable achievements for a non-professional driver competing at the highest levels of international endurance racing.


== Legacy ==
== Legacy ==


George Kurtz's career has intersected with several significant developments in the cybersecurity industry. Through Foundstone, he contributed to the establishment of vulnerability management as a formalized discipline within information security, developing tools, workflows, and terminology that became standard practice. His tenure at McAfee placed him at the center of major cybersecurity events during a period of escalating nation-state and criminal cyber activity.
George Kurtz's career has spanned the evolution of cybersecurity from a niche technical discipline to one of the most consequential sectors of the global technology industry. His founding of Foundstone helped establish vulnerability management as a distinct practice area within information security. His co-authorship of ''Hacking Exposed'' contributed to the development of shared methodologies and best practices for penetration testing and network security assessment.


The founding of CrowdStrike represented a broader industry shift from on-premises, signature-based security models toward cloud-native, AI-driven cybersecurity architectures. Under Kurtz's leadership, the company played a role in accelerating this transition and in demonstrating the viability of cloud-delivered endpoint protection at enterprise scale. CrowdStrike's involvement in high-profile breach investigations further elevated the company's visibility and contributed to broader public awareness of cybersecurity threats.
At CrowdStrike, Kurtz led an industry shift toward cloud-native, AI-powered cybersecurity architectures. The company's Falcon platform represented a departure from the on-premises, signature-based approach that had dominated the antivirus and endpoint security market for decades. By building a cloud-delivered platform that used behavioral analysis and threat intelligence, CrowdStrike under Kurtz's leadership helped redefine how enterprises approach endpoint protection and threat detection.


The 2024 global IT outage caused by a CrowdStrike software update also became a defining moment in Kurtz's career and in the cybersecurity industry more broadly. The incident raised fundamental questions about the risks associated with automatic software updates, the potential for single points of failure in widely deployed security tools, and the responsibilities of cybersecurity vendors in maintaining the stability of their customers' systems.
The 2024 global IT outage associated with a CrowdStrike software update also became a significant chapter in both Kurtz's career and the broader history of information technology, underscoring the risks inherent in the centralized security architectures that CrowdStrike had championed. The incident prompted industry-wide discussions about software update practices, supply chain risk, and the concentration of critical infrastructure dependencies on single vendors.


As of 2026, Kurtz continues to lead CrowdStrike as CEO while also pursuing interests in motorsport and technology advisory roles, including his co-ownership of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team.<ref name="cnbc-mercedes" /><ref name="nytimes-mercedes" />
Kurtz's dual identity as a technology CEO and competitive racing driver has made him a distinctive figure among American business leaders. His acquisition of a minority stake in the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team in 2025 further intertwined his business and motorsport interests, positioning him at the intersection of technology and one of the world's most technologically intensive sports.


== References ==
== References ==
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[[Category:American racing drivers]]
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Latest revision as of 05:03, 24 February 2026



George Kurtz
George Kurtz
Born14 10, 1970
BirthplaceNew Jersey, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationCEO and co-founder of CrowdStrike; co-owner and strategic advisor, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team; racing driver
Known forCo-founding CrowdStrike; co-authoring Hacking Exposed; founding Foundstone
AwardsFortune 100 Most Powerful People in Business (2024)
Website[https://www.crowdstrike.com/george-kurtz/ Official site]

George Kurtz (born October 14, 1970) is an American entrepreneur, businessman, and cybersecurity executive who serves as the chief executive officer and co-founder of CrowdStrike, a publicly traded cybersecurity technology company headquartered in Austin, Texas. A central figure in the modern cybersecurity industry, Kurtz built his career across several decades of work in information security, beginning with his founding of Foundstone, a security consulting and products firm, and continuing through a tenure as chief technology officer of McAfee. He is also the co-author of Hacking Exposed: Network Security Secrets & Solutions, a widely referenced book in the field of vulnerability assessment and penetration testing. Beyond the technology sector, Kurtz is a FIA Bronze-rated racing driver who has competed in endurance events including the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Spa. In November 2025, Kurtz became a co-owner of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, acquiring a minority stake from team principal Toto Wolff and taking on a role as technology adviser and steering-committee member.[1] In 2024, Fortune magazine named Kurtz one of the "100 Most Powerful People in Business."[2]

Early Life

George Kurtz was born on October 14, 1970, in New Jersey.[3] He grew up in Parsippany, a suburban community in Morris County. Kurtz developed an early interest in technology and computing, which would later direct the trajectory of his professional life. Details about his family background and upbringing remain largely private, though Kurtz has been described in local New Jersey media as a "Parsippany native" who went on to become a prominent figure in the cybersecurity industry.[3]

Kurtz's formative years coincided with the growth of personal computing in the 1980s and the emergence of the internet in the early 1990s, a period that shaped an entire generation of technology entrepreneurs. His interest in the security dimensions of computing would become the defining thread of his career, eventually leading him to build multiple companies and author influential texts in the cybersecurity field.

Education

Kurtz attended Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree.[4] Seton Hall, a private Catholic university, provided Kurtz with a foundation in accounting and business that would prove useful throughout his career in technology entrepreneurship. His education equipped him with both technical knowledge and business acumen, a combination that distinguished him in the cybersecurity field, where many practitioners came from purely technical backgrounds.

Career

Early Career and Foundstone

Kurtz began his career in cybersecurity during the 1990s, a period when the field was still in its nascent stages. He became involved in security consulting and vulnerability assessment at a time when many organizations were only beginning to understand the risks posed by networked computing environments. Kurtz is credited with helping to create the field of vulnerability management and with defining terminology, workflows, and services that remain central to cybersecurity practice.[4]

During this period, Kurtz co-authored Hacking Exposed: Network Security Secrets & Solutions, a book that became one of the most referenced texts in the cybersecurity field. The book provided detailed guidance on vulnerability assessment and penetration testing methodologies and helped shape best practices across the industry. It went through multiple editions and became a standard reference for both security professionals and students of information security.

Kurtz founded Foundstone, a security products and consulting company that specialized in vulnerability management, incident response, and security training. Foundstone developed a suite of tools and services aimed at helping enterprises identify and remediate security weaknesses in their networks and applications. The company gained a strong reputation in the cybersecurity community and attracted the attention of larger technology firms seeking to bolster their security offerings.

In 2004, McAfee, one of the largest antivirus and security software companies in the world, acquired Foundstone.[5] The acquisition integrated Foundstone's vulnerability management capabilities into McAfee's broader security portfolio and marked a significant milestone in Kurtz's career, transitioning him from startup founder to executive at a major technology corporation.

McAfee

Following McAfee's acquisition of Foundstone, Kurtz took on increasingly senior roles within the company. He was eventually named executive vice president and chief technology officer of McAfee,[6] one of the most prominent positions in the cybersecurity industry at the time. As CTO, Kurtz was responsible for overseeing the company's technology strategy and product direction.

During his tenure at McAfee, Kurtz became a prominent public voice on cybersecurity threats and trends. He spoke publicly about emerging threats, including a campaign he referred to as "Night Dragon," which targeted global energy and petrochemical companies through a combination of social engineering, Windows exploits, and remote administration tools.[7] He also commented publicly on the sophisticated cyberattacks against Google and other major corporations that became known as Operation Aurora, discussing the implications for enterprise security.[8]

Kurtz stepped down from his position as CTO of McAfee in October 2011.[9] His departure, along with that of other high-profile security researchers at the company, was noted in the industry press. Kurtz's time at McAfee had given him deep insight into both the strengths and limitations of traditional, signature-based approaches to cybersecurity — experiences that would directly inform his next venture.

Founding of CrowdStrike

In February 2012, Kurtz co-founded CrowdStrike alongside Dmitri Alperovitch and Gregg Marston. The company launched out of stealth mode with $26 million in funding, an unusually large sum for a cybersecurity startup at the time.[10][11] The founding thesis of CrowdStrike was rooted in Kurtz's conviction, developed during his years at McAfee, that the traditional approach to cybersecurity — relying on signature-based detection and on-premises hardware — was fundamentally insufficient against the increasingly sophisticated threat actors targeting enterprises and governments.

CrowdStrike's approach was built around a cloud-native architecture, using a lightweight agent deployed on endpoints that fed data to a centralized cloud platform for analysis. This represented a significant departure from the legacy model of deploying heavy, locally installed antivirus software and on-premises security appliances. The company's platform, known as Falcon, leveraged artificial intelligence and behavioral analysis to detect and prevent threats, rather than relying on databases of known malware signatures.[12]

Kurtz's leadership helped position CrowdStrike as one of the fastest-growing companies in the cybersecurity sector. By 2017, CrowdStrike had achieved unicorn status, with a valuation exceeding $1 billion.[13] Kurtz articulated the company's strategy as a platform consolidation play, arguing that enterprises needed to move away from a patchwork of point security products toward a unified platform capable of addressing multiple security domains.

CrowdStrike IPO and Growth

CrowdStrike went public on June 12, 2019, trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol CRWD. The initial public offering sought to raise approximately $100 million and attracted significant investor interest.[14][15] The company's stock performed strongly in its early days of trading, reflecting investor enthusiasm for cloud-based cybersecurity platforms.

Under Kurtz's leadership as CEO, CrowdStrike expanded its product portfolio beyond its initial endpoint protection focus. The Falcon platform grew to encompass threat intelligence, incident response, IT hygiene, and cloud workload protection, among other capabilities. The company was recognized by multiple industry analyst firms as a leading endpoint security vendor on a global scale.[16] CRN named CrowdStrike among the "10 Hot Cybersecurity Companies to Watch" in 2020.[17]

Kurtz continued to champion the concept of platform consolidation as a strategy for both CrowdStrike and the broader cybersecurity market. In late 2025, he discussed the company's partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS), the "Falcon Flex" licensing model, and what he described as "incredibly important" partner-related initiatives aimed at accelerating the adoption of the CrowdStrike platform across enterprise customers.[18]

2024 Global IT Outage

In July 2024, CrowdStrike released a software update to its Falcon platform that caused widespread disruption to millions of Microsoft Windows systems around the world. The incident, which resulted from a faulty content update pushed to CrowdStrike's Falcon sensor, caused affected systems to crash and display the Blue Screen of Death. The event impacted airlines, hospitals, financial institutions, and numerous other organizations globally, and has been described as the largest outage in the history of information technology.

As CEO, Kurtz became the public face of CrowdStrike's response to the crisis. The incident drew intense scrutiny from customers, regulators, and the media, and raised questions about the risks associated with the centralized, cloud-based security architecture that CrowdStrike had pioneered. The company undertook remediation efforts and publicly committed to changes in its update deployment processes.

Agentic AI and Recent Developments

In early 2026, Kurtz continued to articulate a forward-looking vision for CrowdStrike, describing 2026 as a "breakout year" for the "Agentic SOC" — a concept referring to the use of agentic artificial intelligence to automate and augment Security Operations Center (SOC) functions.[19]

In February 2026, CrowdStrike's stock experienced a decline following the launch of a new AI-powered security tool by Anthropic, which sparked concerns among investors about potential disruption to established cybersecurity companies. Kurtz publicly responded to the concerns, pushing back on fears that AI tools could replace CrowdStrike's platform.[20][21]

Personal Life

Motorsport

Outside of his business career, Kurtz is an accomplished amateur racing driver. He holds an FIA Bronze rating and has competed in some of the most prestigious endurance racing events in the world. Kurtz has won the Pro-Am class at both the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Spa, two of the most demanding races on the international motorsport calendar.[22][23]

Kurtz has competed in the Pirelli World Challenge (now SRO America) series in the United States, racing in the GTS class.[24] His involvement in motorsport extends beyond driving; in November 2025, Kurtz acquired a minority ownership stake in the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team from team principal Toto Wolff. As part of the deal, which valued the Mercedes F1 team at approximately $6 billion, Kurtz took on the role of technology adviser and steering-committee member.[25][26] CrowdStrike had previously served as a sponsor of the Mercedes F1 team, and Kurtz's acquisition of an ownership stake deepened the relationship between the cybersecurity firm and the motorsport organization.

Real Estate

Kurtz owns and develops real estate projects in Scottsdale, Arizona, and elsewhere in the southwestern United States.[3]

Recognition

Kurtz has received recognition from multiple industry and business publications over the course of his career. In 2024, Fortune magazine named him one of the "100 Most Powerful People in Business," reflecting his influence as the head of one of the largest publicly traded cybersecurity companies in the world.

CrowdStrike under Kurtz's leadership has received numerous industry awards and analyst recognitions. The company has been positioned as a leader in endpoint security by major analyst firms and was named among CRN's "10 Hot Cybersecurity Companies to Watch" in 2020.[27]

Kurtz's co-authorship of Hacking Exposed: Network Security Secrets & Solutions has been recognized as a significant contribution to the cybersecurity literature. The book, which went through multiple editions, has been used as a reference and training resource by security professionals and academic institutions.

In the motorsport world, Kurtz's Pro-Am class victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Spa represent notable achievements for a non-professional driver competing at the highest levels of international endurance racing.

Legacy

George Kurtz's career has spanned the evolution of cybersecurity from a niche technical discipline to one of the most consequential sectors of the global technology industry. His founding of Foundstone helped establish vulnerability management as a distinct practice area within information security. His co-authorship of Hacking Exposed contributed to the development of shared methodologies and best practices for penetration testing and network security assessment.

At CrowdStrike, Kurtz led an industry shift toward cloud-native, AI-powered cybersecurity architectures. The company's Falcon platform represented a departure from the on-premises, signature-based approach that had dominated the antivirus and endpoint security market for decades. By building a cloud-delivered platform that used behavioral analysis and threat intelligence, CrowdStrike under Kurtz's leadership helped redefine how enterprises approach endpoint protection and threat detection.

The 2024 global IT outage associated with a CrowdStrike software update also became a significant chapter in both Kurtz's career and the broader history of information technology, underscoring the risks inherent in the centralized security architectures that CrowdStrike had championed. The incident prompted industry-wide discussions about software update practices, supply chain risk, and the concentration of critical infrastructure dependencies on single vendors.

Kurtz's dual identity as a technology CEO and competitive racing driver has made him a distinctive figure among American business leaders. His acquisition of a minority stake in the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team in 2025 further intertwined his business and motorsport interests, positioning him at the intersection of technology and one of the world's most technologically intensive sports.

References

  1. ↑ "Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff sells a piece of his ownership stake to CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz".CNBC.2025-11-20.https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/20/mercedes-f1-toto-wolff-ownership-crowdstrike-ceo-george-kurtz.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ "CrowdStrike: The $1 Billion Cybersecurity Startup".Fortune.2015-07-29.http://fortune.com/2015/07/29/crowdstrike-cybersecurity-george-kurtz/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Parsippany native leads charge against cyber attacks".Asbury Park Press.2014-12-29.https://www.app.com/story/money/business/2014/12/29/parsippany-native-leads-charge-cyber-attacks/21031169/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "George Kurtz — CrowdStrike".CrowdStrike.https://www.crowdstrike.com/george-kurtz/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  5. ↑ "McAfee Buys Security Consulting Firm Foundstone".eWeek.http://www.eweek.com/security/mcafee-buys-security-consulting-firm-foundstone.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ↑ "McAfee names George Kurtz EVP and CTO".ChannelTimes.http://www.channeltimes.com/story/mcafee-names-george-kurtz-evp-and-cto/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  7. ↑ "McAfee CTO warns of new combined threat named Night Dragon".SC Magazine UK.https://www.scmagazineuk.com/mcafee-cto-warns-of-new-combined-threat-named-night-dragon/article/561459/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  8. ↑ "Interview: George Kurtz, McAfee, on Google attacks".GCN.2010-09-06.https://gcn.com/articles/2010/09/06/interview-george-kurtz-mcafee-google-attacks.aspx.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  9. ↑ "McAfee loses high-profile researcher and CTO".Reuters.2011-10-18.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mcafee-departures/mcafee-loses-high-profile-researcher-and-cto-idUSTRE79H63Y20111018.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  10. ↑ "Former McAfee CTO Debuts Stealthy Security Technology Startup CrowdStrike With $26M In Funding".TechCrunch.2012-02-23.https://techcrunch.com/2012/02/23/former-mcafee-cto-debuts-stealthy-security-technology-startup-crowdstrike-with-26m-in-funding/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  11. ↑ "Ex-McAfee execs start security firm CrowdStrike".Reuters.2012-02-23.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-security-startup/ex-mcafee-execs-start-security-firm-crowdstrike-idUSTRE81M21Q20120223.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  12. ↑ "Stealthy CrowdStrike aims to obliterate security threats, raises $26M".GeekWire.2012-02-23.https://www.geekwire.com/2012/stealthy-crowdstrike-obliterate-security-threats-raises-26m/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  13. ↑ HighPeterPeter"The CEO Of The World's Newest Unicorn On How To Secure Your Enterprise".Forbes.2017-05-23.https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterhigh/2017/05/23/the-ceo-of-the-worlds-newest-unicorn-on-how-to-secure-your-enterprise/#415db24853ee.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  14. ↑ "CrowdStrike IPO Seeks To Raise $100M, Reveals Strength Of Channel".CRN.2019-06-12.https://www.crn.com/news/security/crowdstrike-ipo-seeks-to-raise-100m-reveals-strength-of-channel.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  15. ↑ "CrowdStrike IPO".Silicon Valley Business Journal.2019-06-12.https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2019/06/12/crowdstrike-ipo-crwd-george-kurtz.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  16. ↑ "CrowdStrike recognised as leading endpoint security vendor on global scale".SecurityBrief.https://securitybrief.eu/story/crowdstrike-recognised-as-leading-endpoint-security-vendor-on-global-scale.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  17. ↑ "10 Hot Cybersecurity Companies To Watch In 2020".CRN.2020.https://www.crn.com/slide-shows/security/10-hot-cybersecurity-companies-to-watch-in-2020/3.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  18. ↑ "CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz On AWS, Falcon Flex And 'Incredibly Important' Partner Moves".CRN.2025-11-20.https://www.crn.com/news/security/2025/crowdstrike-ceo-george-kurtz-on-aws-falcon-flex-and-incredibly-important-partner-moves.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  19. ↑ "CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz: 2026 Is 'Breakout Year' For Agentic SOC".CRN.2026-01-27.https://www.crn.com/news/security/2026/crowdstrike-ceo-george-kurtz-2026-is-breakout-year-for-agentic-soc.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  20. ↑ "After Anthropic's new AI tool launch wipes millions from CrowdStrike's market value, CEO George Kurtz shares Claude AI's reply when asked to build a CrowdStrike replacement".The Times of India.2026-02-24.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/after-anthropics-new-ai-tool-launch-wipes-millions-from-crowdstrikes-market-value-ceo-george-kurtz-shares-claude-ais-reply-when-asked-to-build-a-crowdstrike-replacement/articleshow/128740101.cms.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  21. ↑ "Cybersecurity stocks drop for a second day as new Anthropic tool fuels AI disruption fears".CNBC.2026-02-23.https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/23/cybersecurity-stocks-anthropic-ai-crowdstrike.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  22. ↑ "Utah PWC: James delivers fourth GTS win for Panoz".Motorsport.com.https://www.motorsport.com/pwc/news/utah-pwc-james-delivers-fourth-gts-win-for-panoz-941079/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  23. ↑ "George Kurtz — Pirelli Challenge".Speed Sport.https://speedsport.com/road-racing/other-road-racing/george-kurtz-pirelli-challenge/2/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  24. ↑ "Pirelli Paddock Pass: George Kurtz".Sportscar365.https://sportscar365.com/sro/sro-america/world-challenge-america/pirelli-paddock-pass-george-kurtz-2/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  25. ↑ "CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz becomes Mercedes F1 co-owner, team valued at $6bn".The New York Times / The Athletic.2025-11-20.https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6824455/2025/11/20/george-kurtz-mercedes-sale-f1/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  26. ↑ "Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff sells a piece of his ownership stake to CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz".CNBC.2025-11-20.https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/20/mercedes-f1-toto-wolff-ownership-crowdstrike-ceo-george-kurtz.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  27. ↑ "10 Hot Cybersecurity Companies To Watch In 2020".CRN.2020.https://www.crn.com/slide-shows/security/10-hot-cybersecurity-companies-to-watch-in-2020/3.Retrieved 2026-02-24.

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