Cato Networks Taps SASE Veteran Chad Gardner as CRO to Drive AI-Era…

Event summary

Cato Networks appointed Chad Gardner as Chief Revenue Officer on October 7, 2026.
Gardner brings over 20 years of experience in global sales leadership across cybersecurity, cloud, networking, and enterprise technology.
He previously held leadership roles at Palo Alto Networks, Netskope, SambaNova Systems, and other major tech firms.
Gardner will lead Cato's global sales organization as enterprises modernize and converge their networking and security infrastructure.
Cato Networks positions itself as the converged network and security cloud for the AI era.

The big picture

Cato Networks' appointment of Chad Gardner as CRO underscores the strategic importance of converged network and security solutions in the AI era. Gardner's extensive experience in SASE and enterprise technology positions Cato to capitalize on the growing demand for integrated security and networking infrastructure. The move signals Cato's intent to strengthen its market presence against established competitors like Palo Alto Networks and Netskope, as enterprises prioritize secure AI adoption.

What we're watching

SASE Market Dynamics: How Gardner's experience in SASE sales will influence Cato's positioning against competitors like Palo Alto Networks and Netskope.
AI Security Adoption: The pace at which Cato can scale its AI-powered security solutions as enterprises increasingly adopt AI technologies.
Sales Execution: Whether Gardner can successfully build and lead high-performing sales teams to drive Cato's revenue growth in a competitive market.