# Lee Chen

> Lee Chen founded A10 Networks in 2004 and led it as CEO through December 2019. Previously a co-founder and engineering executive at Foundry Networks and a founding member of Centillion Networks, he built a career in networking hardware, application delivery and security. His public accounts emphasize collaborative engineering reviews, customer contact and long-term business relationships.

- **Role:** Founder and former CEO at A10 Networks, Inc.
- **Organizations:** A10 Networks, Inc., Foundry Networks, Centillion Networks, Control Data Corporation, Convergent Technologies, Apple Computer, InSync
- **Nationality:** Taiwanese (as recorded in historical UK Companies House filings)
- **Education:** B.S. in Electrophysics, National Chiao Tung University, M.S. in Electrical Engineering, San José State University
- **Known for:** Founded A10 Networks and led it from 2004 through its 2014 IPO to the 2019 CEO transition., Co-founded Foundry Networks and led its engineering organization., Was a founding member and architect at Centillion Networks.

## Career timeline

- **1979** — Emigrated from Taiwan to the United States and began working at Control Data Corporation.
- **1982** — Completed his electrical engineering master’s at San José State while employed full time.
- **Before 1996** — Worked at networking startups and Convergent Technologies; became a founding member and engineer at Centillion Networks, acquired by Bay Networks.
- **1996** — Co-founded Foundry Networks; led engineering and later also handled technical support.
- **1999** — Foundry Networks went public.
- **2004** — Left Foundry and founded A10 Networks.
- **2007** — A10 introduced its application-delivery product in the US and Japan; Chen identified Toyota as its first major customer win late that year.
- **2013** — A10 settled its Brocade litigation for $75 million; final judgment was entered in favor of Chen and other individual defendants on all claims against them.
- **2014** — A10 debuted on the NYSE under ATEN on March 21; Chen was also named to CRN’s Top 100 list that year.
- **2016** — A10 acquired Appcito, with Chen discussing the cloud strategy in a company video.
- **2019** — Dhrupad Trivedi succeeded Chen as president and CEO effective December 2; Chen initially remained chairman.
- **2020** — Resigned from the A10 board in February. In May A10 agreed to repurchase 2.2 million of his shares.

## Achievements

- Founded A10 Networks and led it from 2004 through its 2014 IPO to the 2019 CEO transition.
- Co-founded Foundry Networks and led its engineering organization.
- Was a founding member and architect at Centillion Networks.
- Named to the 2014 CRN Top 100 list.

## Latest updates

- **2020-05** — A10 entered a stock repurchase agreement with Chen for 2.2 million shares; subsequent filings reported approximately $13.3 million for the repurchase.
- **2020-02** — Chen resigned from the A10 board, as recorded in the 2020 proxy statement.
- **2019-12** — Dhrupad Trivedi became president and CEO on December 2, succeeding Chen.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-chen-9241913

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/lee-chen
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-20