The South African who built a global cybersecurity powerhouse – MyBroadband

South African-born Peter Bauer co-founded Mimecast in 2003 and served as its CEO for 21 years, announcing his departure in January 2024.

Since its launch, the company has become a global cybersecurity and email management powerhouse, with offices in several major cities worldwide, including Johannesburg, Cape Town, London, and Boston.

Born and raised in South Africa, Bauer trained as a Microsoft systems engineer and worked with corporate messaging systems before founding his first company, FAB Technology, in the mid-nineties.

He holds an Honorary Doctorate in Business from Plymouth State University, awarded in 2023, and a Diploma in Marketing Management from the Institute of Marketing Management South Africa, which he completed in 1992.

FAB Technology, a leading Microsoft-certified solution provider and application developer, was strategically acquired by Idion Technology Holdings in 1998.

From 1999 to 2002, he served as managing director for Idion Solutions, a Microsoft partner in Cape Town focused on business optimization software.

He then moved to the UK, where he co-founded Mimecast with Neil Murray in 2003 and served as its CEO. In 2011, he moved again to Boston, Massachusetts, to lead Mimecast’s assertive push into North America.

Bauer and his family still live in the capital of Massachusetts.

The company provides cybersecurity, archiving, and continuity Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) products for business email on Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft 365.

Since its push into North America, Mimecast has been a top performer in its market segment in terms of customer acquisition and top-line growth.

To this end, the company recently announced the close of its strongest expansion year on record.

“Mimecast, a global cybersecurity company, capped a year of robust growth with the largest new and expansion revenue gains in the company’s history,” it said in a statement.

“Customers are responding positively to Mimecast’s strong product innovation and acquisition strategy.”

Mimecast’s AI-powered platform is used by more than 42,000 global customers and protects 26 million end users worldwide, which it notes is a 15% increase over the previous financial year.

Bauer announced his departure as Mimecast CEO in January 2024 after serving at the company for 21 years. He remains at the company as a member of Mimecast’s board of directors.

“I’ve loved leading Mimecast from our founding in 2003 to our current position as a globally recognized, award-winning cybersecurity company,” said Bauer in a statement announcing his departure.

“After an amazing and busy 21 years, I am looking forward to pursuing my personal interests in addressing climate change, environmental and social justice, and supporting young entrepreneurs.”

To this end, Bauer recently bought and cleared the “condemned” Cape Town mountain peak Glencairn Ridge, where he plans to create a wildlife education programme for underprivileged children.

Bauer and his family spent roughly R6 million to clear the vegetation from Glencairn Ridge, which was once considered a wildfire time bomb.

Situated between Simon’s Town and Glencairn, the ridge last burned in the 2000s fires, which destroyed some Glencairn homes.

Since 2017, the former Mimecast CEO has been providing educational shelter via the Cape Kids Foundation. He instructed the foundation’s director, Dave Froneman, to bid on the property.

“We didn’t know what we were getting ourselves into,” said Froneman.

“It was a little like the dog that caught the speeding car. We had to pay the [outstanding] rates and taxes — it was a bit of a wrangle.”

Bauer wants to keep the land pristine for the Cape Kids Foundation members, with intentions to build a campsite to facilitate a wilderness experience.