PHP 3 was launched in 1997 by Andi Gutmans and Zeev Suraski, fundamentally altering the landscape of server-side scripting. Born in 1972 in Israel, Gutmans progressed from a computer science student at the Technion—Israel Institute of Technology to a central figure in the evolution of web infrastructure, subsequently steering major database and cloud initiatives at global technology corporations.
Technical Foundations and the Zend Engine
During his studies at the Technion, Gutmans began his collaboration with Zeev Suraski. The duo formalized their partnership by creating PHP 3 in 1997. Recognizing the need for a more robust architecture, they followed this with the development of the Zend Engine in 1999, which served as the core for PHP 4. The name Zend itself functions as a portmanteau of their first names. This engine became the foundation for subsequent versions of the language, including PHP 5 and PHP 7.
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Gutmans co-founded Zend Technologies to oversee the advancement of PHP. Before his appointment as CEO in February 2009, he directed the company's research and development efforts, overseeing the creation of various products, the Zend Framework, and PHP Development Tools. During his tenure, he facilitated corporate financing and established strategic alliances with industry entities such as IBM, Oracle, Microsoft, and Adobe. He served as CEO until October 2015, the month in which Rogue Wave Software acquired the company.
Cloud Infrastructure and Executive Roles
Following his departure from Rogue Wave in March 2016, Gutmans transitioned to Amazon Web Services. His mandate included the management of several services, specifically Amazon Elasticsearch Service, Amazon Redshift, Amazon EMR, Amazon Glue, Amazon ElastiCache, and Amazon Neptune. In May 2020, he moved to Google, assuming the position of VP and GM for Databases. He currently serves as the VP and GM for Data Cloud, a division encompassing Business Intelligence, analytical data platforms, operational databases, and open lakehouse technologies.
Industry Recognition and Professional Affiliations
Beyond his direct corporate work, Gutmans has contributed to various professional organizations. He held a position on the board of the Eclipse Foundation from October 2005 to October 2008 and remains an emeritus member of the Apache Software Foundation. In 1999, he was nominated for the FSF Award for the Advancement of Free Software. In 2004, he co-authored the book 'PHP 5 Power Programming' with Derick Rethans and Stig Bakken, and in 2007, ComputerWorld magazine named him one of their '40 Under 40'.
Fast facts
- Born: 1972, Israel
- Education: Technion – Israel Institute of Technology
- Citizenships: Swiss, British, Israeli, American
- Key Software Development: PHP 3, Zend Engine
- Notable Book: PHP 5 Power Programming (2004)
- Past Affiliations: Apache Software Foundation, Eclipse Foundation
- Current Role: VP and GM, Data Cloud at Google
Questions readers ask
What is the origin of the company name Zend?
The name Zend is a portmanteau derived from the first names of its founders, Zeev Suraski and Andi Gutmans.
Which major cloud platforms has Gutmans managed?
He has held executive roles managing database and cloud services at both Amazon Web Services and Google.
Achievements
- Educated at Technion – Israel Institute of Technology
- Worked as entrepreneur, programmer and businessperson
