Management Team

Mikel Urizarbarrena is the founder of Panda and the current Chairman of the board of directors. His intuition, vision of the market and sheer hard work have been fundamental in making Panda Spain's leading software company and bringing it to a position where it now disputes global leadership of technological innovation with the major players in the IT security sector.

The project he set up seventeen years ago is today a textbook case studied in business schools worldwide. Panda is now present in more than 50 countries through its network of subsidiaries and franchises and its consumer and corporate security solutions are sold in more than 200 countries.

Mikel Urizarbarrena graduated as an Engineer specialized in mechanical engineering from the Polytechnic University of Mondragón (Basque Country).

Jorge Dinares was, until joining Panda, Vice-President, Worldwide Growth and Emerging Markets at BMC Software, with responsibility for developing BMC business worldwide, with a special focus on emerging markets as well as Europe and the USA. Previously, he was BMC's Vice-President for Southern Europe for five years. This region includes Austria , Switzerland , Eastern European countries, Spain and Portugal .

He joined BMC Software in October 1995 as General Manager for Spain and Portugal . From January 1999 until this latest appointment, he was EMEA Vice-President, Professional Services. Prior to joining BMC Software, he worked for nine years with Oracle Ibérica as Director of the Industry and Services Business Unit and also as a project manager/consultant in CCS.

Jorge Dinares holds a Degree in Computer Science from the Polytechnic University of Madrid (1984) and an MBA from Instituto de Empresa in Madrid (1990).

His interest in IT security arose in 1988, designing and developing the first antivirus products for AmigaDos operating systems. In 1990, he founded the IT company Bitmap Multimedia, dedicated to developing medical software. In 1996, he joined Panda Software, working in software analysis and programming. He later managed software development teams until 1998, when he took charge of the R&D Division. In 2002, he became Chief Technology Officer at Panda, managing the research and innovation area, known as Panda Research.

Iñaki Urzay holds a degree in Computer Science from the University of Deusto, Bilbao.

He started his career in 1989. Since then, he has held several management positions at different technology solutions companies, including: Olivetti, Abengoa and AOL Spain, until he joined Panda in 2003. After holding several management positions in the company, he was designated Solutions Development and Services Director in 2005. His duties include defining, developing, certifying and services Panda's IT security solutions.

Alfonso Fernandez holds a degree in Physical Science specialized in Automation from the University of the Basque Country.

M. Arantza de la Llosa joined Panda Security in May 2005 and worked as Deputy Director of the Solutions and Services Development area until July 2007, when she was appointed CIO of the company. Her experience in executive positions in the Information and Communications Technologies sector goes back to 1998. Prior to working for Panda, she was IT Systems Subdirector reporting directly to the Director of Operations at the Red.es public company, IT Systems Director at AOL Spain and Director of the Oracle Technology Center at Tecsidel.

M. Arantza de la Llosa has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and holds a Master’s Degree in Software Engineering from the Deusto University (Spain). She also has a Postgraduate Degree in Human Resource Management from the Polytechnic University of Madrid.

Juan Santana has a strong track record in the business and finance world. Before joining Panda Security, he was Executive Manager of Telecommunications and IT Equipment at Lehman brothers, based in London from 1999-2003, and in Madrid, from 2003-2006. Prior to that, he held an executive post in the London-based company Robertson Stephens and was a executive at Vasconia bank, Spain.

Juan Santana graduated in Law from the University of Navarre and holds an MBA from the IESE in Barcelona.

Monica Martinez joined Panda Security in 2007 continuing her career in the Human Resources area. Before that, she was Director of Human Resources at Ficosa International and head of the Human Resources Dept. for Acciona Airpot Services (Acciona Group) at the Madrid airport. She also worked in the Development and Training Dept. at the Santander Central Hispano Bank.

Monica Martinez has a Bachelor's Degree in Financial Law from the Deusto University (Spain) and holds a Master's Diploma in Human Resource Management from Madrid's Industrial Organization School (EOI).

He joined Panda at the end of 2007 to lead the recently created Managed Security Services business unit. Prior to this he had spent most of his career, since 1989, in activities related to information systems in the banking sector. He held several positions in Grupo Santander, both nationally and internationally, and worked in Grupo Sabadell as Development Director in its online division, ActivoBank. He has also spent part of his career in the consulting services sector (Price Waterhouse, Everis). Prior to joining Panda he was CTO at Barclays Bank Spain, leading the technological merger with Banco Zaragozano.

He has a degree in Telecommunications Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, and has completed his technical training with Banking Business courses and an Executive Program in Managerial Skills.

Roberto Casetta has extensive experience in managing sales organizations in the international market (EMEA, USA and APAC), as well as building networks of business partners.

A truly seasoned professional, Roberto Casetta has been the Director of REMEDY in Italy, Regional Director at BMC Software and VP Worldwide Channels for MRO Software.

Ydema has a broad experience in applying control, marketing and sales systems through the channel in different European markets. He was Managing Director for Central Europe at Claris, an Apple Division, Vice President at FTP Software and NetManage and Vice President and Managing Director, EMEA Sales, at Entrust.

Joao Matos has a broad experience in International Sales. Before joining Panda, he worked as Commercial Director at TNT Express Worldwide, and Account Manager at The Continuity Company.

After holding several management positions in panda Security, he was designated Sales Director for Canada, Portugal and LATAM in 2007.

Joao Matos holds a degree in Business Administration from the University Técnica of Lisboa (Portugal).

Steve Smart has 25 years' experience with IT vendors in various pre-sales, sales and market development roles within the systems management arena, covering automated operations, data storage & connectivity and identity management.

During his professional career, Steve has been Southern Regional Manager at Legato Systems, Regional Sales Director for Australia at New Dimension/BMC Software and Director at Endeavour Software.

Gary Leibowitz is a Technology Executive with extensive and diversified international experience in high tech marketing, sales, business development, P&L and general management. Formerly, he worked as Field Marketing VP for Americas at BMC Software, EMEA Channels Director at BMC Software and Security Sales Director at BMC and New Dimension.