Mark Templeton is president and CEO of Citrix Systems, the leading provider of virtualization, networking and cloud computing technologies that let people work and play from anywhere on any device. Templeton leads the Citrix mission to create better ways for people, IT and business to work using virtual meetings, desktops and datacenters. He is responsible for the company’s vision, market direction, product strategy and passion for customer care. In addition, he guides the company’s unique culture by emphasizing values of respect, integrity, innovation and fun.

Templeton joined Citrix in 1995 as vice president of marketing, prior to the company’s initial public offering. He was appointed president in 1998 and chief executive officer in 2001. Under his leadership, Citrix has been transformed from a $15 million organization with one product, one customer segment and one go-to-market path, to a global powerhouse with revenues of nearly $2 billion. Today, Citrix virtualization, networking and cloud computing products reach 230,000 enterprise customers and 100 million corporate desktops, and touch 75 percent of all Internet users each day. Citrix partners with more than 10,000 companies in more than 100 countries and employs nearly 6,000 people around the globe.

Templeton holds a bachelor’s degree in product design from North Carolina State University and an MBA from the University of Virginia, Darden School of Business. He is a passionate participant in many community and charitable organizations and serves on the board of directors of Equifax (NYSE: EFX).  

A popular and provocative speaker, Templeton has shared his perspective and technology vision with audiences at events such as CIO 100 and Interop, as well as the bi-annual Citrix Synergy user and Citrix Summit partner conferences. He has received numerous leadership awards, such as the AeA Abacus Award for Outstanding High-Tech Executive, “Businessperson of the Year” (EVIE Award) and the Excalibur Award.