Kommersant reports about the split between the owners of Kaspersky Lab, world-known Russian security applications maker. Company’s shareholders are planning to remove Natalia Kasperskaya, the company CEO, from her current position. It is to be decided at the shareholders meeting on August 3d. Eugeny Kaspersky, her former husband, the co-founder, plans to takeover the responsibilities for running the company. Until recently Mr Kaspersky was responsible for antivirus research in the company.
The reforming of the management structure will include creating of a board of directors, the company’s spokeswoman said. Natalia Kasperskaya may become a head of the board, but will not obtain a direct control of the company’s operational activities, a company insider told the reporters. Experts say that her role at the new position might be rather nominal.
Eugeny Kaspersky owns 50% stake in the company, while Natalia Kasperskaya owns 30% stake. Other shareholders are undisclosed. The company has 11 foreign offices, including the one in U.S. The spokeswoman said the reason of the management shuffle is the necessity to fit the new needs of the international company’s structure. But a source in the company says that the main reason of the upheaval is a conflict between former spouses. “Their views on the company’s strategy diverged too much,” said an insider.
Today Kaspersky Lab has about 60% share in Russian security applications market. The closest rival is Symantec, who has 30%. But today Kaspersky Lab is about to loose its dominating position because of a fierce competition with western companies, such as Bit Defender and Eset. “According to our estimates, Kaspersky Lab has lost about 5% of the market for the last 2 years,” Eset marketing manager said. Shareholders conflict might be caused by the weakening position of the company, experts say.
Learned from Kommersant Daily
