# Omkhar Arasaratnam

> Canadian-American computer scientist, technology executive and investor

**Wikidata**: [Q126107514](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q126107514)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omkhar_Arasaratnam)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/omkhar-arasaratnam

## Summary
Omkhar Arasaratnam is a Canadian-American computer scientist, technology executive, and investor known for his leadership in cybersecurity and open-source software security. He has held senior executive roles at major global institutions, including serving as the General Manager of the Open Source Security Foundation (OpenSSF) and as a Director at Google.

## Biography
- **Nationality:** Canadian (by birth) and American (by naturalization)
- **Known for:** Leadership in open-source security, cybersecurity executive management, and academic contributions to computer science.
- **Employer(s):** LinkedIn (current); Open Source Security Foundation; Google; JPMorgan Chase; Credit Suisse; Deutsche Bank; Toronto-Dominion Bank; IBM; NYU Tandon School of Engineering.
- **Field(s):** Computer science, cybersecurity, technology management.

## Contributions
Omkhar Arasaratnam has led significant initiatives in the protection of global digital infrastructure. From May 2023 to September 2024, he served as the General Manager of the Open Source Security Foundation (OpenSSF), where he directed efforts to secure the open-source ecosystem used by developers worldwide. Prior to this, he was a Director at Google (2020–2023) and an Executive Director at JPMorgan Chase (2018–2020), where he managed large-scale security operations and technology strategy. 

His career began at IBM, where he spent nearly 14 years (1998–2012) in various technical and leadership capacities. In addition to his corporate roles, Arasaratnam is a Senior Fellow and Lecturer at the New York University (NYU) Tandon School of Engineering, a position he has held since 2018. His research and scholarly contributions are recognized through his profiles on Google Scholar and arXiv. He also provides strategic guidance to the industry as an advisory board member for organizations such as Data443 Risk Mitigation, which he joined in 2020.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Omkhar Arasaratnam's current professional role?
A: As of October 2024, Omkhar Arasaratnam is employed at LinkedIn. He most recently completed a tenure as the General Manager of the Open Source Security Foundation (OpenSSF).

### Q: What major technology companies has Omkhar Arasaratnam worked for?
A: He has held leadership positions at Google as a Director and spent over a decade at IBM. He has also held executive roles at JPMorgan Chase, Deutsche Bank, and Credit Suisse.

### Q: Is Omkhar Arasaratnam involved in academic research?
A: Yes, he is a Senior Fellow and Lecturer at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. His research work is indexed on academic platforms including arXiv and Google Scholar.

## Why They Matter
Omkhar Arasaratnam is a critical figure in the intersection of corporate technology and the security of the global open-source community. His leadership at the Open Source Security Foundation (OpenSSF) placed him at the forefront of efforts to defend essential software supply chains against emerging threats. By holding high-level positions at "Big Tech" firms like Google and major financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase, he has influenced how the world’s most powerful organizations approach risk mitigation and cybersecurity. Furthermore, his dual role as an industry executive and an academic at NYU Tandon ensures that his practical expertise informs both current industry standards and the education of future computer scientists.

## Notable For
*   **General Manager of OpenSSF:** Led the Open Source Security Foundation from 2023 to 2024 to improve global software security.
*   **Executive Leadership:** Served as a Director at Google and an Executive Director at JPMorgan Chase.
*   **Academic Affiliation:** Senior Fellow and Lecturer at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering since 2018.
*   **Industry Longevity:** Spent 14 years at IBM (1998–2012) contributing to the industrial and software sectors.

## Body

### Corporate and Executive Career
Arasaratnam’s professional career is characterized by long-term tenures at major multinational corporations. He began his career at IBM in December 1998, serving in various roles until October 2012. He then transitioned into the financial sector, holding management positions at Toronto-Dominion Bank (2012–2014), Deutsche Bank (2014–2016), and Credit Suisse (2016–2018).

In May 2018, he was appointed Executive Director at JPMorgan Chase. He moved to Google in July 2020, where he served as a Director for nearly three years. In May 2023, he took on the role of General Manager at the Open Source Security Foundation (OpenSSF), a position he held until September 2024. In October 2024, he joined LinkedIn.

### Academic and Advisory Contributions
Arasaratnam has been a Senior Fellow at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering since May 2018, where he also serves as a lecturer. His academic presence is documented through research identifiers such as his Google Scholar ID (IBrd2K0AAAAJ) and arXiv author ID (arasaratnam_o_1). In July 2020, he joined the advisory board of Data443 Risk Mitigation.

### Digital Identity and Identifiers
Arasaratnam is active within the technology and cybersecurity communities under the aliases Omkhar and Omkharan Arasaratnam. His professional and social identifiers include:
*   **Official Website:** omkhar.net
*   **Twitter/X:** @_omkhar (formerly @omkhar_openssf)
*   **Mastodon:** omkhar@infosec.exchange
*   **Bluesky:** omkhar.net
*   **IMDb ID:** nm16265998
*   **Crunchbase:** omkhar-arasaratnam

## References

1. [Source](https://omkhar.net/omkhar_headshot.jpg)
2. [Source](https://cyber.nyu.edu/profile/omkhar-arasaratnam/)
3. [Source](http://linkedin.com/in/omkhar)
4. [Source](https://www.linkedin.com/in/omkhar/details/experience/)
5. [Source](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/07/29/2069425/0/en/DATA443-RISK-MITIGATION-WELCOMES-MR-OMKHAR-ARASARATNAM-TO-ITS-ADVISORY-BOARD.html)
6. [Source](https://engineering.nyu.edu/advisory-council/omkhar-arasaratnam)
7. [Source](https://openssf.org/blog/2023/05/30/meet-new-openssf-gm-omkhar-arasaratnam/)
8. [Source](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241010549404/en/)
9. [Source](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm16265998/)
10. [Source](https://orcid.org/0009-0007-0415-5500)
11. [Source](https://omkhar.net)
12. [Source](https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=IBrd2K0AAAAJ)
13. [Source](https://x.com/omkhar_openssf)
14. [Source](https://x.com/_omkhar)
15. [Source](https://www.crunchbase.com/person/omkhar-arasaratnam)
16. [Source](https://infosec.exchange/@Omkhar)
17. [Source](https://arxiv.org/a/arasaratnam_o_1)
18. [Source](https://www.linkedin.com/in/omkhar/)
19. [Source](https://bsky.app/profile/omkhar.net)