Ondrej Vlcek

In protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Avast is ceasing all business operations in Russia and Belarus. Among other things, this means pulling out ca. $2.5m of sales tax collected by the Russian government annually from the sales of our products - money that could be potentially used to fund the war. Not any more.

At the same time, Avast, its people and its philanthropic arm (the Avast Foundation) are together donating over $800k to humanitarian organizations helping in Ukraine. And on top of that, we are now offering all our premium products for free in Ukraine to aid in the digital protection of Ukrainian users.

It is my hope that those working to restore peace and prevent senseless loss of life will prevail. You can read more about our efforts in our statement below.

#Avast #supportukraine #stopthewar

The magic of new beginnings! ✨

After nearly three decades of tremendous growth and learning, the time has come for me to say goodbye to Avast/Gen. And what a ride it has been!

Starting as a seven-person team in a communist-era “panelak” building on the outskirts of Prague back in 1995, Avast was more than just a workplace for me; it was a launching pad for dreams fueled by ambition. In those early days, as the internet began making its way into everyday life, we knew our work in cybersecurity was not just important. It was essential. I still vividly remember battling infamous viruses like ILoveYou, Nimda, Blaster, and CodeRed. Our small team’s software knocked out every single one of them, cold! We were unstoppable!

My career evolved as the company expanded. From software developer to team lead, then chief architect, CTO, and COO, each role offered new challenges and opportunities. Ultimately, in 2019, I took the reins as CEO. By then, Avast was already a force to be reckoned with, publicly listed, employing over 1,500 staff across 20+ locations, and serving 400M+ users globally.

Stepping into the CEO role brought its own set of challenges, especially with the onset of the Covid pandemic. Adapting to a radically shifting world, I made some difficult decisions to ensure our resilience and continued growth, always striving to uphold our core values and maintain team spirit.

A pivotal moment occurred when Vincent Pilette and I began discussing the possibility of merging Avast with NortonLifelock. What started as an informal chat between two newly appointed first-time CEOs resulted in a multi-billion dollar deal in September 2022 and the formation of Gen. This merger was not only a strategic achievement but a personal milestone as well. During the three years of my tenure as CEO, Avast's stock price more than tripled – a clear indicator of our collective success.

After establishing Gen, I remained in the role of President, focusing on ensuring a smooth integration of our combined strengths. However, that work is now complete, and that effectively concludes my mission here.

Thinking about the whole journey fills me with a myriad of emotions and cherished memories. But the best part has always been the people. Throughout my tenure, I had the privilege of working alongside some of the most talented and dedicated individuals, whose passion and commitment have been nothing short of inspiring. So, to my amazing teams – past and present – THANK YOU for your unwavering support, camaraderie, and so many unforgettable victories. You have my deepest admiration and respect!

My heart today is full of gratitude and excitement. While closing one chapter, I eagerly anticipate the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. Here’s to new beginnings! It's time to build again -- so buckle up and LFG! 💥💪🚀


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Special thanks to:
Pavel Baudis
Eda Kucera
John Schwarz
Vince Steckler
Vincent Pilette

The magic of new beginnings.✨

I like a quote from Albert Einstein where he says that life is like riding a bicycle: to keep our balance, we must keep moving. Always keep moving.

In 2022, my biggest learning was that my single-minded pursuit of excellence, movement and progress is about much more than myself. The most important thing is how my actions move and touch those around me, and how they carry forward to other people.

And so first and foremost, I’d like to give a big shout out to my amazing colleagues, friends and family members - thank you so much, you have all been great. My current and past teams at Gen™, Avast, Nadace rodiny Vlčkových and Zlatá rybka. My dear friends and wider family members. My parents, my kids, and especially my amazing wife and lifelong partner Katarína Vlčková. I feel incredibly fortunate and privileged to be able to share this journey with you and stand by your side - already for 25 years!

I have no doubt that 2023 is going to be great. It has to be! Just have a look:

2023 = 7̳ x 17̳ x 17̳
2 + 0 + 2 + 3 = 7̳
2023 in hex = 7̳e7̳

But jokes aside - and even if seven is not your lucky number, sometimes it’s just good to realize that we actually have it all in our hands. The present circumstances don't determine where we can go. They merely determine where we start.

And so, let’s keep moving… We may not notice it today. We may not notice it in a week. But one day we will be able to look back and be amazed by how far we have come… or at least take pleasure in knowing that we tried.

Here’s to new beginnings! Cheers!🥂✨🙌