Network Security Startup Lastline Names Former Cisco, Aruba Exec John DiLullo CEO

Industry veteran John DiLullo has landed the CEO gig at network security startup Lastline, the company said.

DiLullo's appointment to the Redwood City, Calif., firm's top spot is effective immediately. He takes over for company co-founder and former CEO Christopher Kruegel, who is taking a position as Lastline's chief product officer. Kruegel was CEO between 2009 and 2012 and was then chief scientist from 2012 to 2016 before beginning a second stint as CEO in May of that year.

As CEO, DiLullo takes the helm at Lastline as the company, founded in 2011, positions itself for a security market adjusting to a more dire threat landscape.

Lastline develops artificial intelligence-powered enterprise network and email security software. Its solutions are billed as a less costly alternative for automated detection, analysis and response to advance threats.

DiLullo was most recently executive vice president of worldwide sales at F5 Networks for nearly three years. He left that position last summer as the company continued its broad-based restructuring effort focused on transitioning to a multi-cloud and application-based strategy.

DiLullo's resume reads like a who's who of the networking market, with stints at Aruba Networks and Avaya, as well as a seven-year stay at Cisco Systems as a sales vice president. He was also vice president at worldwide sales and channels at security powerhouse SonicWall between 2005 and 2008.