Databricks Adds Key Leaders to Expand Data Security Leadership and Partner Ecosystem

SAN FRANCISCO, July 11, 2017 -- Databricks, provider of the leading Unified Analytics Platform built by the team who created Apache Spark™, today announced two significant additions to its leadership team. The rapidly growing cloud software company welcomed David Cook as chief information security officer (CISO) and Michael Hoff as senior vice president of business development and partners. Cook will evolve Databricks’ already significant investment and leadership in cloud and data security, while Hoff will be responsible for building and expanding strategic alliances and scaling the company’s global partner program.

“David and Michael’s hires signify rapid growth and expanded investment in two key areas of our business: cloud data security and our growing global partner ecosystem,” said Ali Ghodsi, Databricks cofounder and CEO. “We’re thrilled to welcome them and look forward to their contributions.” 

Prior to joining Databricks, Cook served as the chief security officer (CSO) for Jive Software, where he was responsible for Jive's physical and logical security of personnel, physical assets and information assets, including IT, product, and cloud, leading Jive's corporate security strategy and programs. In addition to being Jive’s CSO, Cook ran Technical Operations for Jive’s Cloud platform. Before Jive, Cook held a director of security roles at Blue Coat Systems and Jasper Wireless where he was in charge of the organization’s corporate and product security programs.

“The opportunity to join Databricks, already a leader in cloud and data security, and to be a part of an innovative and talented team was a no brainer,” said Cook. “It’s not only an incredible opportunity, but now my responsibility to build a security platform that will be the gold standard for enterprise cloud security.”

Hoff brings more than 20 years of experience building enterprise sales, partner and business development teams. Most recently, he served as vice president of Partners and Alliances at Tableau. Prior to Tableau, Hoff spent more than 15 years at Microsoft in various enterprise sales leadership roles. During his last five years at Microsoft, Hoff served as the general manager for the Worldwide Azure Sales team where he built the business from inception.

“I couldn’t be more excited to join Databricks - a transformational company that was founded by the team that created Apache Spark and is now defining the Unified Analytics Platform,” said Hoff. “Based on my experience in the industry, I’ve never encountered a technology platform so completely aligned with the market’s needs and such an engaged community of users. Databricks’ cloud offering empowers data scientists and data engineers to collaborate with the business and innovate faster. I am excited to help expand our partner ecosystem to help thousands of customers innovate using analytics.”

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About Databricks
Databricks’ mission is to accelerate innovation for its customers by unifying Data Science, Engineering and Business. Founded by the team who created Apache Spark™, Databricks provides a Unified Analytics Platform for data science teams to collaborate with data engineering and lines of business to build data products. Users achieve faster time-to-value with Databricks by creating analytic workflows that go from ETL and interactive exploration to production. The company also makes it easier for its users to focus on their data by providing a fully managed, scalable, and secure cloud infrastructure that reduces operational complexity and total cost of ownership. Databricks, venture-backed by Andreessen Horowitz and NEA, has a global customer base that includes Salesforce, Viacom, Amgen, Shell and HP. For more information, visit www.databricks.com.

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