About Us

OUR STORY

Headquartered in the U.S. and boasting a global presence spanning Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pac, Certes Networks has been a pioneer in delivering cutting-edge security technology solutions, with a specific focus on Data Protection Risk Mitigation (DPRM). With over 15 years of expertise, our technology is deployed across a diverse clientele of 1000 customers in almost 100 countries, holding certifications for FIPS 140-2 and Common Criteria EAL4+. Our extensive global footprint includes organizations leveraging Certes technology, facilitating compliance with national, international, or industry-specific regulations through robust DPRM strategies.

“Our customers understand the value of their data as a treasured commodity.  Therefore, securing that data is priceless. Certes Networks introduces a new way to think about data security.  With Certes Networks Provable Security™ customers can now measure the effectiveness of their security strategy and provide quantifiable value to their organization.

– Paul German, CEO

 

MEET THE TEAM

Chief Executive Officer, Board of Directors

Paul German

“Organizations need to start thinking differently about data security.  The major challenge for a CISO is no longer the network rather the data has to come first. With the launch of Certes Networks Provable Security, our customers can now take actionable steps not only to measure the effectiveness of their security strategy but to gain deep insight into how to enhance their security posture and enforce policy.”

Paul is an experienced and customer-focused CEO with over 20 years of experience in selling, marketing, implementing and supporting networking and security technologies. Paul prides himself in building great teams and in knowing the right team will ultimately make a company successful.

Read More

Paul joined Certes in January 2015 where he initially led the EMEA region before becoming CEO.Prior, Paul founded a VoIP Security company which successfully established itself as the first Freemium VoIP Security vendor in the market obtaining over 500 product downloads in its first 12 months.

From 2008 – 2011 Paul ran the EMEA region for Sipera successfully growing the business in the region from zero revenue in 2008 to being the top performing region for the company on acquisition by Avaya in 2011.

Paul has held roles in financial services companies such as Lehman Brothers and BNP Paribas, as a technology executive owning and managing networking and security technologies. Paul also spent three years with Cisco working in the Service provider line of business selling to Worldcom (Verizon).

Paul is a graduate of Brunel University, London.

Chief Financial Officer

Gary Brunner

“Critical efficiencies for our customers are not only time savings but scalability and cost-effectiveness.”

Gary brings over 25 years of finance, operations and management experience to the team at Certes Networks. Prior to joining Certes Networks, Gary served as the Sr. Vice President of Finance and Operations at Netronome Systems, a developer and supplier of network flow processors and acceleration cards in network and communication devices.

Read More

Previously, he served as the Vice President of Finance at Precise Technology Inc (acquired by Rexam Inc. in 2005), a consumer and medical packaging supplier. From 2000 – 2002 Gary served as Partner and CFO at G4 Partners, an early stage private equity fund. He held the positions of Vice President, Treasurer and Corporate Controller during his tenure at FORE Systems Inc., a developer and manufacturer of high-speed networking equipment that grew from a small start-up to a company with annual sales of $632 million.

Gary has held various finance positions at technology companies both in the Pittsburgh and Washington D.C. areas previous to joining FORE Systems. Gary holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Robert Morris University.

board of directors

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Douglas Smith – CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD | FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT, VANGUARD INVESTMENT COMPANY

Doug was a Merger & Acquisition Specialist with Warburg, Paribas, Becker in New York and in 1983 he founded Vanguard Investment Company, a Dallas, Texas based private equity firm. Vanguard has invested in retail, manufacturing, services, financial services, Oil & Gas production, and a variety of technology industries.

Read More

Doug currently serves as Chairman of Hirsh Industries, Blocksom & Company, Everest Group, Valid Systems, Import Merchandising Concepts, Rymed Technologies, Diagnostics Direct, and Charis Oil & Gas.

Doug has a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Northwestern University and a Masters of Business Administration with distinction from Harvard Business School.

Michael T. Kane – FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR, KESTREL INVESTMENTS

Mike Kane is the founder and president of Kestrel Investments, a single-family office near Philadelphia investing in real assets and in alternative investments.  Previously, he served as Vice-President of Finance for Kane Is Able, Inc., a third-generation family-owned logistics company. Mike has served in senior management positions for operating companies and has always been an entrepreneur.

Read More

Mike is a Leaders Council member of PathNorth, a national CEO group, a member of the Business Leaders Network, a Philadelphia CEO group, and an active participant in the Institute for Private Investors, where he is a member of the Advisory Faculty.

In addition to Certes, Mike serves on the board of PharmMD, a Nashville healthcare company.  Mike is an advisor to the Ben Franklin Technology Partners IT Investment Committee and previously served as the vice president of a Pennsylvania Land Trust.

Mike holds an undergraduate degree from Georgetown University and a Ph.D. in philosophy from Boston College.

Thomas Satterfield Jr. – CO-FOUNDER AND CIO, CALDWELL MILL OPPORTUNITY FUND

Thomas Satterfield Jr. has been an active personal investor for 50 years. After attending the University of Alabama from 1972 to 1974, Mr. Satterfield started his career at Madix Store Fixtures, Inc., a privately held manufacturer of metal store fixtures.  In 1976, Mr. Satterfield co-founded ZZYZZX Technologies, Inc. (No. 49 on the INC. Magazine 500 in 1983), where he served as Chief Financial Officer from 1976 to 1986.

Read More

Mr. Satterfield was a licensed securities analyst with Smetek Van Horn & Cormack in Houston, Texas followed by co-founding Satterfield & Pontikes Construction, Inc., one of the largest general contractors in Houston, Texas, where he served as Chairman and Chief Financial Officer through 1997.  Today, Mr. Satterfield manages a portfolio valued at approximately $150 million in assets under management (after over $25 million in net distributions over this time period). Mr. Satterfield currently serves on the Board of Assemble Systems, a Houston based construction software company, is President of Tomsat Investments & Trading Co., Managing Investment Partner of AG Family L.P., President of the General Partner of Satterfield Vintage Investments (non-public investments) and was the lead shareholder in the Stone Energy Ad Hoc Committee.  Mr. Satterfield has been married for over 39 years, has one adult child and has lived in Birmingham, Alabama for the past 18 years.

 
 

A technology solution that is simple, scalable and uncomplicated.

Get In Contact Today

Want to learn more? One of our team members would be happy to help!