ESET, a global leader in cybersecurity, today announces its new Chief Business Officer (CBO) Pavol Balaj, whose mandate will be to shape the business organization via its product and service offering, and position it for both channel and customer success.
Mr. Balaj’s pedigree has prepared him for the diverse challenges of today’s business and security environment, where the protection of companies is increasingly interlinked with that of governments. Relevant to today’s strategic focus and ESET’s place in it, the new ESET Chief Business Officer led the acquisition and integration of authentication and encryption technologies into ESET in advance of GDPR and was central to the revamp of its enterprise offer and ultimately the company’s evolution toward ESET PROTECT, a unified multilayered security platform.
Anticipating business needs, Mr. Balaj, in his former role as Enterprise Segment VP, led strategy development for the ESET Services offering, including the design and build of the Global Services Delivery Organization. Services now stand as a bulwark for both small and medium-sized businesses as well as enterprises in addressing the critical shortage of cybersecurity and IT experts, ensuring that clients have access to the necessary expertise to protect their operations and meet compliance regulations, especially those involved in supply chains supporting critical infrastructure.
“Stepping into the role of CBO at ESET means building on the 30 years of progress we’ve made in protecting technology, institutions, businesses, and consumers,” said Pavol Balaj. “To succeed, I’ll be bringing my 13 years of cybersecurity management experience to the table, and countless hours of collaboration with ESET staff, our critical partner network, and industry peers. It is an exciting time, with vast changes to the threat landscape, protective technologies, and the use of AI. Under it all, I see our people and the bright opportunities for ESET’s AI-native tech, our undisputed research leadership, and the dynamic position we hold as Europe’s leading cybersecurity vendor.”
“Pavol has been a key driver of ESET’s evolving business strategy and its goal achievement in his ten years at ESET,” said Richard Marko, Chief Executive Officer at ESET. “Across key roles, as Head of Business Development and as Enterprise Vice President he has helped position ESET security technologies, services, and our highly valued research acumen for corporate clients in Europe and globally. Having been instrumental in raising ESET’s business case as a strong, independent, European cybersecurity vendor, I am confident that he is prepared for this next challenge and our shared journey in protecting progress for many years to come.”
After Mr. Balaj helped to guide strategy throughout the pandemic and impacts on the business following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, ESET’s growth trajectory and its visibility as a key European vendor have been substantial. Now his focus will turn to channel and customer success, strengthening ESET’s leading position in Europe and growing market share in strategic regions, including Japan and North America. This will require the synthesis of long-term technology objectives, industry partnerships, and newer endeavors like the ESET Corporate Solutions subdivision.
With his appointment to the ESET C-level suite, Mr. Balaj’s critical role as VP of Enterprise will pass to Michal Jankech, currently Vice President, MSP/SMB. “First of all, I congratulate Pavol Balaj for being appointed CBO,” said Michal Jankech. “I am more than pleased as I see big potential for the synergies between our activities within the Enterprise and SMB/MSP segments. Everybody seeks a stable, high-quality solution, coupled with both professional and security services, supported by exceptional sales, support, and success teams. My vision is to deliver it to them, especially in the field of SMB and mid-market enterprise, where we have the biggest foothold and competencies.”
Mr. Jankech’s mandate will be to extend the segment synergies he has already delivered on with MSP & SMB for the Enterprise market. This will ensure leadership continuity, further consolidating both investment and segment strategies into one cohesive effort under CEO Richard Marko.
About ESET
ESET provides cutting-edge digital security to prevent attacks before they happen. By combining the power of AI and human expertise, ESET stays ahead of known and emerging cyber threats — securing businesses, critical infrastructure, and individuals. Whether it’s endpoint, cloud or mobile protection, its AI-native, cloud-first solutions and services remain highly effective and easy to use. ESET technology includes robust detection and response, ultra-secure encryption, and multi-factor authentication. With 24/7 real-time defense and strong local support, we keep users safe and businesses running without interruption. An ever-evolving digital landscape demands a progressive approach to security: ESET is committed to world-class research and powerful threat intelligence, backed by R&D centers and a strong global partner network. For more information, visit www.eset.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.