Lucas Moody says cybersecurity is one of the core pillars of data analytics software maker Alteryx Inc. in Irvine, and he’ll help make sure it stays that way.
Moody, who took over as the $4.9 billion-valued company’s chief information security officer earlier this month, says he’ll “ensure we have strong cybersecurity DNA and security stays top of mind as we accelerate our business in the data analytics space.”
His duties include leading Alteryx’s security organization, overseeing the protection of customer, partner, and employee data and assets, and contributing to product innovation.
“I will have a broad range of responsibilities given the critical importance of security to our business,” Moody told the Business Journal on April 8.
He said that includes “embedding security more deeply into our product and go-to-market efforts.”
Alteryx’s software allows data workers to turn huge amounts of information and data into actionable business decisions. The company says it is “focused on enabling every person to transform data into a breakthrough.”
Moody most recently worked at $35 billion-valued Twitter (NYSE: TWTR), where he oversaw global security technology teams protecting the company’s more than 192 million daily users.
In addition to his prior CISO roles at Bay Area tech firms Rubrik and Palo Alto Networks, Moody has worked at KPMG, Oracle, Intuit, and eBay.
Exec Moves
CISO is not a new position at Alteryx, but the company is increasing the scope of the role to support growth and expansion into cloud. The previous CISO was Billy Spears, who is now CISO at analytics software company Teradata (NYSE: TDC) in San Diego.
Moody’s appointment is the latest notable hire at Alteryx, which had a market cap over $10 billion in 2020.
Other executive additions include Paula Hansen, who joined as chief revenue officer in 2021 and was promoted to the president role in February, around the same time Keith Pearce was named its new chief marketing officer. Hansen also retains her CRO title and role.
Chief Executive Mark Anderson—the former president of now $60 billion-valued Palo Alto Networks (Nasdaq: PANW)—took over the top spot at Alteryx in October 2020.
Anderson said he tapped Moody after working with him at Palo Alto Networks.
“Having worked with Lucas, I have seen firsthand his commitment to protecting the internet community,” Anderson said in announcing Moody’s appointment. “He has a proven record of expediting business growth by enabling security with a focus on the customer experience, which is critical to our acceleration efforts here at Alteryx.”
34% Growth Plan
Alteryx is projecting as much as $720 million in revenue for this year, which would be a 34% increase over 2021. Its headcount had climbed to just shy of 2,000 at the end of last year.
“We have designated security as one of our core pillars, and I’m thrilled to partner across our business to make security a significant part of our company structure,” Moody said in his first comments to a news organization since his appointment as CISO and senior vice president. The appointment was announced April 5.
As a “member of the C-Suite” of top company executives, he envisions enterprises elevating the function in their businesses by placing security leaders at the board level to “weave security more intimately into their businesses.”
“With continued training and education, we will embed security into parts of the business that wouldn’t traditionally see security expertise,” according to Moody.
Product Innovation
Moody is based in Silicon Valley but plans on spending significant time at the company’s headquarters in Irvine, as well as in Alteryx offices across the U.S. and abroad.
He will lead the security organization, oversee the protection of customer, partner, and employee data and assets, and contribute to product innovation.
Moody said, “I am inspired by the all-star executive leadership team along with the recent company growth and cloud momentum that speak volumes about the trajectory of the organization in the coming years.”
Moody will report to CEO Anderson.
Moody is a strong supporter of inclusion and diversity efforts, and through that he was asked to sponsor and represent two employee resource groups (ERGs) at Palo Alto Networks: the Black Employee Network and the Muslim Employee Network. He supported the teams by helping with charter development, planning community and employee events, budgeting, speaking and representation at the executive level.
With three daughters, he is also a big advocate for women in the technology field and was heavily involved in related efforts at Palo Alto Networks.
