Leadership Team

The people of AnyConnect are problem solvers. This focus drives the innovation and technology we deliver to our customers.

Chris Piche

Founder

Prior to founding AnyConnect, Chris developed communications products and businesses including BlackBerry OS, MS-SIP, and STUN TURN ICE. Chris has been named one of Canada’s Top Young Leaders by the Globe & Mail, one of Vancouver’s Top 40 Under 40 by Business in Vancouver, an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year finalist, and a Canadian representative to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

Chris holds a degree in computer science from the University of British Columbia and several patents in peer-to-peer networking, adaptive bitrate streaming, and artificial intelligence. In addition to running AnyConnect, Chris sits on several boards including SureCash.

David Buechner

Vice President

David has 20 years of experience in executive management and marketing of software and telecommunications products to Fortune 100 customers. He is former Vice President for Impulse Accelerated Technologies where he led global revenue efforts and Vice President Sales for Harris Corporation Network Support Division, where he managed a worldwide sales team of 80, managed 600 independent representatives and generated annual revenues of $120M selling to service providers worldwide. David has an MA from Holy Names University.

Claude Hochreutiner

Director, Platform & Data Management

Claude Hochreutiner has been active in the security & IoT industry for more than 15 years. He’s worked for General Electric, Thales, Schneider Electric and Bosch in Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. Claude has notably been involved in large, complex CCTV and access control systems in landmark projects for the Paris Subway, the New Doha International Airport (NDIA), Heathrow Terminal 5 and the Thomson MRT Line in Singapore.

Claude has a technology-centric approach, a trait that’s been nurtured through his tenure at a research institute in Bangalore and Tech Labs in the Bay Area.

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A cybersecurity enthusiast, Claude was among the first to implement Rainbow Tables to crack password hashes, an endeavour that led to Windows Passwords getting cracked in just 5 seconds.

Claude holds a Master’s Degree in Communications Systems from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) as well a PMP certification.

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Tariqul Sarker

Platform Development Manager

Tariqul has accumulated over 15 years of proven experience as a software engineer. The earlier half of his career saw him work dedicate almost five years of work into building Firewall solutions, and the later part, as a critical member of the AnyConnect development team.

In AnyConnect, Tariqul serves as one of two development team leads, whose team delivers connectivity solutions between devices and IP endpoints. He also leads the design, development, and deployment of AnyConnect Microservices.

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While with AnyConnect, Tariqul has helped achieve an industry-best rate of connectivity with a fast and optimal path, delivering such solutions to flagship customers like Intel, and Polycom.

Tariqul is a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science & Engineering.

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Robel Sharma

Product Development Manager

Robel has accumulated over 8 years of proven experience as a software engineer. In the first half of his career, Robel worked on solutions to better audio-visual communications on the web, and thereafter on Eyeball Messenger, leading the server team to deliver quality VoIP solutions to over 7 million registered users.

In AnyConnect, Robel serves as one of two development team leads, with him specifically focusing on leading the AnyConnect Vision, media services and the stream team. His team actively works on future-readying our platform with features such as AI vision and 4K streaming.

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While at AnyConnect, Robel worked to create a streaming service that is deployed in more than 4 data centres for a major US-based satellite TV service provider.

Robel has an undergraduate Engineering Degree in Computer Science and Engineering.

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