AirDefense Changes Heads

Wireless security startup AirDefense Inc. 's long-time CEO Anil Khatod has left the company to be replaced by Jay Chaudhry, one of its original founders.

"Anil is no longer with the company," was all that a spokesperson for AirDefense would say late this afternoon. The company promises to send a more detailed statement soon.

Khatod joined AirDefense in December 2003. He previously worked as venture capitalist and spent many years with Nortel Networks Ltd. (NYSE/Toronto: NT).

Although the startup hasn't yet given an official reason for the head swap, the move seems in tune with a wireless security market that is very much in flux at the moment. Rival startup Network Chemistry Inc. recently appointed a new CEO and all of the startups in this field are revamping their product strategies to try and adapt to a rapidly changing market. (See AirTight's Security MOM.)

This is because analysts and industry figures expect a shakeout of the wireless security market as larger players become more dominant in the market. Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO) and Juniper Networks Inc. (Nasdaq: JNPR) have already got a headstart on this trend with the acquisitions of Perfigo and Funk Software respectively.

We will update this story as soon we have more news on the changes at the top at AirDefense.

— Dan Jones, Site Editor, Unstrung. Special to Dark Reading