Charlie has over 30 years of experience leading successful technology businesses, including 20 years leading cybersecurity businesses. He is a recognized expert in digital identity, authentication, and customer experience, and he frequently speaks on these topics at industry events. Along with his Privakey colleagues, Charlie has been awarded three patents for innovations in customer-friendly, secure passwordless authentication. He currently serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Privakey, and he serves on the company’s Board of Directors. Charlie co-founded Privakey and is responsible for the company’s strategy, operations, and execution.
Charlie previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Probaris Technologies, Inc., a digital identity business focused on the government sector. Earlier, Charlie led a large ecommerce and business intelligence consulting business at General Electric.
Charlie earned a Master of Science in Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering with high honors from Drexel University. He also received extensive formal management training while rising through the ranks at General Electric.
Brian Ross has 20 years of experience spearheading the articulation, development, and management of innovative technology solutions. He currently serves as Chief Product Officer of Privakey. Brian is responsible for ensuring that the promise of simple and secure authentication becomes a reality for businesses and consumers alike. He has served in a similar role at Probaris since 2010.
Prior to joining Probaris, Brian worked as a consultant at Groundswell and Enterpulse, developing and managing solutions for a diverse range of companies that included Coca-Cola, J. P. Morgan Chase, Citibank, Standard and Poor’s, BMW NA, and T-Mobile. Earlier in his career, Brian worked in product management in Citibank’s Global Transaction Services group.
Ben has 15 years of experience in the software and cybersecurity industry. He currently serves as the Chief Software Architect of Privakey, and is responsible for the overall architecture and operations of its solutions. He began working at Probaris immediately after college, where he now serves in a similar role.
Ben earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering with honors from The University of Pennsylvania.
Rob Aronoff has over 30 years of experience in leading product, strategy and business development activities in high technology, spanning everything from Digital Imaging to Internet Solutions, Robotics to Clean Energy, AI to Virtual Reality, Computer Hardware to Consumer Electronics, Medical Products to Fintech solutions, IoT to Industrial solutions, and more. Rob has worked in operational roles with companies like Sun Microsystems, Eastman Kodak, Brandera, and in advisory roles with KPMG, and Coopers & Lybrand.
Rob is also a recognized world leader in Intellectual Property strategy. He has been a member of the IAM 300 Global IP Strategy Leaders since 2009, and has run Pluritas, a renown IP-based transaction and advisory firm since 2004. Rob has worked on behalf of startups and innovators with educational activities in Washington D.C. and Silicon Valley, and has spoken on entrepreneurship and innovation related topics around the world. Rob earned his MBA from the M.I.T. Sloan School, and Bachelors of Arts in Computer Science and Economics from Brandeis University.
Robert Granadino is an innovator and accomplished product, sales, and partnership strategist. His breadth of technology expertise includes cybersecurity; cyber insurance, IAM; software; network; IoT; consumer technology; mobile, wireless; artificial intelligence; patents; smart buildings; and bioinformatics.
With a distinguished career, Robert was formerly Vice President, wireless at Toshiba; Founding Executive/Vice President at global Wi-Fi provider Boingo Wireless; Creator/General Manager of broadband at EarthLink; A senior leader at cybersecurity global leaders Presidio, Fortinet, and Symantec; Inventor of patented technology licensed to Microsoft (portfolio, 1992); and Senior Advisor to CEO/CMO, United Online broadband ventures.
Robert has served in senior positions of strategy, sales, business development, and product development within some of Silicon Valley’s most iconic brands such as Symantec, Fortinet, Toshiba, Boingo Wireless, and EarthLink. He was the chief architect of a building AI/IoT cloud platform, partnering with global leading brands, such as Schneider Electric and Johnson Controls.
Robert earned his B.A. in Political Science with a Business Concentration from UC Berkeley. He completed postgraduate work at the University of San Diego Law School, Berkeley Haas, and Wharton School of Business Executive Development programs. Robert resides in the Pasadena area of Los Angeles, California with his wife and four children. He enjoys exploring and practicing first principles, hiking, trekking, camping, cycling, sailing, racing, college football, European football, and adventure travel.
Chairman
Mr. Paier co-founded Privakey and currently serves on its Board of Directors. He was also most recently the Chairman and CEO of Healthworks Alliance, Inc which he recently sold to Passport Health Communications. Healthworks Alliance is an information technology firm that is a leading supplier of medical software.From 1980 to 1992 Mr. Paier was President and Chief Operating Officer of Safeguard Scientifics, Inc., a New York Stock Exchange listed company. During his tenure as President, Safeguard made over 25 acquisitions or investments, sold a number of businesses, established two multi-million dollar venture capital limited partnerships, completed five public stock offerings and a number of bank or institutional debt transactions. Safeguard’s revenues increased from $47 million in 1980 to $667 million in 1991.
Mr. Paier serves on the Board of Directors of Deltapaper Corporation and Analytical Graphics, Inc. He is also on the Board of Trustees of The University of the Arts and several other non-profit boards. Mr. Paier has served on the Board of Directors of Safeguard Scientifics, Inc., Novell, Inc., and four other public companies. Mr. Paier graduated with honors from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Director
