Tenable's CEO and chair, Amit Yoran, passed away suddenly after battling cancer.

• On Friday, the company confirmed that Amit Yoran, its CEO, had passed away.
• Yoran, 54, was temporarily away from work due to his battle with cancer.

Amit Yoran, the cybersecurity company's chief executive who led it into the public market, passed away on Friday at the age of 54.

Tenable confirmed Yoran's passing in a Saturday press release, although the company stated that his death was unexpected. Yoran had gone on medical leave early last month while fighting cancer.

Funeral details have not yet been announced, the company said on Saturday.

In 2016, Yoran assumed the role of CEO at Tenable, marking his latest leadership position in the cybersecurity industry. Prior to that, he served as president of RSA Security from 2014 to 2016. According to his LinkedIn profile, Yoran founded and led NetWitness as CEO from 2006 to 2011 before it was acquired by RSA.

Yoran has worked in cybersecurity for decades, with roles in government, nonprofits, and the private sector. He served as National Cybersecurity Director for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from 2003 to 2004 and has been on the board of the Center for Internet Security since 2019.

In his second year as CEO, Tenable successfully went public on the Nasdaq, marking a triumph for cybersecurity firms on Wall Street.

Tenable's emphasis on identifying vulnerabilities in businesses' technology is distinctive in the market, and its transition to a subscription model has been successful. By 2018, more than half of Fortune 500 companies had become Tenable customers.

"We've earned a reputation as one of the most trusted and beloved cybersecurity brands, as stated by our CEO during Tenable's IPO. Being a top-performing private company allows us to showcase our story on a larger stage through going public."

Since December, Steve Vintz and Mark Thurmond have been serving as co-CEOs of the company, following Yoran's medical leave. The board of directors is currently searching for a permanent replacement while these two executives continue to share the role.

Yoran anticipated his leave to be brief and considered his condition to be manageable, as stated in a LinkedIn post he shared with his employees. He had full confidence in Vintz and Thurmond to guide the company during his absence.

"Yoran wrote, "We have much to do and there is no time to waste.""

Art Coviello, Tenable's lead independent director, has been appointed as the new chair of the company's board. In a statement, Coviello praised Yoran, who previously held the position, as an "extraordinary" leader, colleague, and friend.

"Tenable's culture and mission have been shaped by Coviello's passion for cybersecurity, strategic vision, and ability to inspire others, he said. His legacy will continue to guide us as we move forward."