Avast appoints Professor Michal Pěchouček as Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Avast appointed Michal Pěchouček as a new Chief Technology Officer (CTO) effective September 1, 2019. Michal Pěchouček is a professor at the Czech Technical University in Prague where he is leading Department of Computer Science and the Artificial Intelligence Center. He is the founder and director of Artificial Intelligence Center.

Michal Pěchouček is world famous researcher in computer science and Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications. He also is an author of number of highly cited papers.

Michal Pěchouček had co-founded many technology startups including cybersecurity firm Cognitive Security (in 2013 acquired by CISCO), AgentFly, which specializes in controlling autonomous aircraft traffic and BlindSpot Solutions, which develops AI for industrial applications (in 2017 acquired by Adastra Group).

He also directed the R&D Center of AI and Computer Security for CISCO and later worked as a strategist in the CISCO Security CTO office. 

Michal Pěchouček is recognized worldwide for his contribution to research in computer science and AI applications and is an author of number of highly cited papers. Michal Pěchouček was main mover behind the development of AVAST Chair of Cybersecurity at Czech Technical University (CTU), and in this year, he also established the AVAST funded joint CTU/Avast AI and Cybersecurity Laboratory and will continue to support this project in his role as Avast’s CTO.

With the new position in Avast, Michal Pěchouček will continue his professorship and also continue his contribution for university AI Center. Michal Pěchouček will add to the role fresh insights based on his practical and academic experience.

Michal Pěchouček will be joined by 3 leading fellow AI scientists, who will work to expand Avast’s understanding of how artificial intelligence can radically improve society’s ability to protect against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. These three scientists will continue to spend one day a week teaching and advising PhD students at the university in order to further reinforce the existing AVAST/CTU collaboration.

On the appointment of Michal Pěchouček as a CTO, Ondrej Vlcek CEO Avast said, “Michal’s experience in academia and industry, his ability to connect ideas, people, and resources from different fields, and his track record in leading successful teams make him the ideal fit for our Chief Technology Officer role. One of his core responsibilities will be to further our research in AI, machine learning, and cybersecurity. Michal will also be leading our core technology and R&D teams to support the work of our Threat Labs, and our big data and innovation teams. I am excited to have him and his colleagues join us, helping us to forge a stronger collaboration with academia in this fast-moving field of applied research.”

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Michal Pěchouček said, “This paves a new way for industry and academia to work together on some of the biggest and most exciting research-based challenges of our time. Avast’s commitment to funding ongoing and new research in AI and machine learning enables CTU to demonstrate its expertise in these fields, helping attract and retain the best and brightest minds. Avast is recognized as the AI company in the field of cybersecurity, so I’m looking forward to getting started in my new role and together with engineers and scientists from AVAST and their colleagues from CTU to further develop AI to help people to be safe on the internet.”