Dr. Tom Leighton cofounded Akamai Technologies in 1998 and served as its chief scientist for 14 years before becoming chief executive. He is Akamai's technology visionary and leads the senior management team in setting the company's strategic direction, while engaging directly with customers and partners from around the globe. One of the world's preeminent authorities on algorithms for network applications, Dr. Leighton holds numerous patents involving content delivery, Internet protocols, algorithms for networks, cryptography, and digital rights management. He graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University with a BS in engineering and received his PhD in mathematics from MIT.