Los Angeles, Calif. — [January 21, 2026] —DDN, the world’s leading AI data platform provider, today announced that Co-Founder and CEO Alex Bouzari has been named one of The Top Software CEOs of 2025 by The Software Report, a leading online publication covering the software sector.
The annual list recognizes chief executives whose leadership is shaping the role of software as core infrastructure for modern organizations—particularly as AI accelerates operational complexity and elevates the importance of data-driven decision-making. This year’s honorees were selected for delivering measurable impact through platform innovation, strategic growth initiatives, and capital formation that enable enterprises to operate, scale, and compete in an AI-first economy.
Bouzari was recognized for leading DDN through a defining year of growth and market momentum, highlighted by securing a $300 million strategic investment from Blackstone at a $5 billion valuation. Under his leadership, DDN has continued to expand its AI data intelligence platform, helping enterprises, hyperscalers, and research institutions move, manage, and serve data at the scale and speed required for modern AI workloads.
“Software is no longer just an enabler—it’s the foundation for how organizations function, innovate, and evolve,” said The Software Report in its announcement. “The CEOs recognized this year are applying that influence in practice through product innovation, acquisitions, and major financings that raise the bar as AI reshapes the industry.”
“I’m honored to be recognized alongside such an accomplished group of leaders,” said Alex Bouzari, Co-Founder and CEO of DDN. “As AI becomes central to how organizations operate, success depends on how effectively data is accessed, secured, and operationalized at scale. This recognition reflects the incredible work of the entire DDN team and our shared focus on enabling real-world AI outcomes for our customers.”
Over the past decade, Bouzari has helped position DDN at the forefront of AI-driven data intelligence, supporting some of the world’s most demanding workloads across enterprise AI, life sciences, financial services, and national research labs. His inclusion on The Software Report’s 2025 list underscores DDN’s growing influence in shaping how software platforms underpin the AI-powered economy.
The full list of The Top Software CEOs of 2025 is available at: https://www.thesoftwarereport.com/the-top-software-ceos-of-2025/.
About DDN
DDN is the world’s leading provider of AI data storage and data management platforms, powering over 20 years of innovation across HPC, enterprise, and the largest AI deployments on Earth. With its EXA, Infinia, and intelligent data management platforms, DDN delivers unmatched performance, scale, and business value for customers building next-generation AI factories, hyperscale clouds, and Sovereign AI initiatives. DDN is the trusted partner for thousands of the world’s most data-intensive organizations, including the leading national labs, research institutions, enterprises, hyperscalers, financial firms, and autonomous vehicle innovators. For more information, visit www.ddn.com.
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DDN Media Contact:
Amanda Lee,
VP, Marketing,
Analyst & Public Relations
amlee@ddn.com
