Stairwell Appoints Emmy Linder as New CEO to Lead Next Phase of Innovation and Growth

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Stairwell, a company that is redefining security using AI-powered signal intelligence focused on an enterprise's files to bring a data search approach to outmaneuver known and unknown malware in seconds, today announced the appointment of Emmy Linder as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This strategic leadership transition positions the company to accelerate its growth, enhance its technological capabilities, and continue its mission of redefining cybersecurity for the modern era. As part of the transition, Mike Wiacek, founder and current CEO, will assume the role of Founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to focus on further driving innovation and technical excellence.

With Stairwell’s strong technical foundation, and having recently launched AI-powered malware analysis capabilities, this leadership shift comes at a pivotal time.

“We’re at an exciting inflection point for the company as we help security teams understand and investigate malware faster, and I’m thrilled to welcome Emmy as our new CEO,” said Mike Wiacek, Founder and incoming CTO. “Emmy’s expertise in scaling businesses, coupled with her ability to translate complex technical innovation into actionable business strategy, will be instrumental in helping Stairwell achieve its next phase of success. This transition allows me to focus more deeply on our technology and the future of our products, while Emmy drives our broader vision and operational strategy.”

A Future-Focused Leader: Emmy Linder’s Vision for Stairwell

Emmy Linder joins Stairwell with 15+ years of experience in cybersecurity and enterprise technology. Known for her operational excellence and ability to build high-performing teams, Emmy has a unique ability to lead through rapid change and ensure alignment between technology and business strategy. She has a deep understanding of how to drive growth, develop partnerships with the ecosystem, while maintaining operational focus and discipline — skills she honed during her tenure at Cybereason, where she helped scale the company from a small startup to a global leader in the cybersecurity space.

As Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Cybereason, Emmy led the company’s planning and execution during its high-growth years, successfully aligning the company’s engineering, product, and go-to-market teams to meet the demands of an expanding customer base. Prior to her role at Cybereason, Emmy also worked at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where she advised Fortune 500 companies on strategy, organizational transformation, and product innovation.

“At Stairwell, we’re building something truly groundbreaking in cybersecurity, and I’m excited to be a part of it,” said Emmy Linder, CEO of Stairwell. “Our work is far from ordinary — we’re solving some of the most complex challenges organizations face in the digital world. With Mike’s continued leadership on the technical front and our talented team, I’m confident we’ll continue to innovate and provide solutions that help businesses stay secure in a rapidly evolving landscape.”

“We’re extremely excited to welcome Emmy as Stairwell’s new CEO,” said Steve Loughlin, Partner at Accel and Stairwell board member. “As an experienced operator, she’s demonstrated remarkable skill in scaling companies, driving revenue growth, and building world-class teams. From our first conversations, it was clear that Emmy not only brings sharp business instincts—but also a deep conviction in Stairwell’s mission. By pairing her strategic vision with Mike’s proven security leadership, we’ve assembled a leadership duo that blends top business expertise with technical rigor.”

About Stairwell

Stairwell gives organizations the ability to detect, investigate and outmaneuver malware on their systems. We take a data search approach to security: collecting, storing, and continuously reassessing every executable file and indicator of compromise—across all time, at massive scale. Stairwell was founded by Mike Wiacek, the founder of both Google Threat Analysis Group and Alphabet’s Chronicle and is backed by Sequoia, Accel and s32. With enterprise customers from financial services, healthcare, fintech, AI, media, and gaming, Stairwell brings the ease, scale, and speed of web search to modern security.