New leadership, name clarifies outlook at NetClarity

09/06/2005 07:09 AM
By Ethan Forman
Perennial startup technology founder Gary Miliefsky is stepping down as CEO of North Chelmsford-based PredatorWatch Inc., handing over the reins to a sales executive expected to ramp up the company’s revenue — and change its image in the community.The company, now called NetClarity Inc., named Gil Roeder its new CEO and soon will change its headquarters location to Bedford to accommodate its growth.Over the past two years, Miliefsky, now NetClarity’s chief technology officer, built the technology with company co-founders Michael Su, vice president of engineering, and John B. Magnus, chief scientist.NetClarity’s sleek, blade-like software appliance can quarantine an infected laptop or desktop before it infects a network, said Miliefsky. The appliance is aimed at small to medium-size businesses.This “vulnerability management system on steroids” attracted partnerships with networking and information technology leaders like Juniper Networks Inc., Cisco Systems Inc. and Checkpoint Systems Inc., Miliefsky said. The bootstrapped company has fewer than 20 people and is growing.“Gil has uncovered the gems in those relationships that would tie into revenue,” Miliefsky said, about the partnerships with the large networking companies.Roeder background includes heading HandsOn Learning, Chancellor & Dean and onExchange Inc., a Lexington financial trade software vendor, which was purchased by Clearing Corp. of Chicago last year.“I like to take companies that have products, grow them up and help them get acquired,” Roeder said.One of the first things Roeder thought about when he joined the company three months ago was the name. He wanted a less “cloak and dagger” image. Now, the web site sports yellow and green hues. “I wanted to have a company image that was more positive and led to a stronger image” to protect a network, Roeder said.Miliefsky added: “It is a lot nicer than a black box with a red flashing light sitting in your rack.”...

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