Early Life
Nikesh Arora was born on February 9, 1968, in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. Growing up in an Indian Air Force family instilled in him a strong sense of discipline and determination. He completed his schooling at The Air Force School in Delhi. Arora earned a Bachelor of Technology degree in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi in 1989. He then moved to the United States for further studies, earning a Master of Science in Finance from Boston College and an MBA from Northeastern University. He has held the CFA designation since 1999.
Rise to Success
Arora's career began at Fidelity Investments in 1992, where he held various positions in finance and technology management. He then worked at Deutsche Telekom's T-Mobile International division, eventually becoming its Chief Marketing Officer. Arora joined Google in 2004 and held multiple senior operating leadership roles, including President of Europe, Middle East, and Africa, and later, President of Global Sales Operations and Business Development. In 2014, he left Google to become President and COO of SoftBank Group. During his time at SoftBank, he was considered the likely successor to Masayoshi Son. In 2018, Arora took on the role of CEO and Chairman of Palo Alto Networks.
Key Business Strategies
As CEO of Palo Alto Networks, Arora has focused on cloud security and AI-driven cyber defense, leading the company through more than ten acquisitions. Under his leadership, Palo Alto Networks has become a leader in cybersecurity. He has been recognized for his ability to secure significant compensation packages, solidifying his wealth.
Philanthropy
Information about Nikesh Arora's specific philanthropy amounts is not available in the search results. However, Arora has been involved with various charitable initiatives, including the Paley Center for Media, where he serves as a trustee. He also served on the board of The Harlem Children's Zone and Tipping Point Community.