# Co-founder and Vice Chairman, Okta

Source: https://startwithidentity.com/experts/frederic-kerrest/
Last updated: 2026-09-20
License: content by Start with Identity. Cite the source URL.

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## Bio

Frederic Kerrest co-founded Okta with Todd McKinnon in 2009, both Salesforce alumni, and served as its Chief Operating Officer from founding until November 2023. He is now Vice Chairman.

Profile built from public company records.

## Where their work shows up

Okta's bet was that identity belonged outside the data center and outside any one application vendor, at a point when directory meant Active Directory and SSO meant an on-premises appliance. Selling that bet, to enterprises with a working directory and no appetite to move it, was as much of the work as building it. See the [Okta profile](https://startwithidentity.com/vendors/iam/okta/), the [best IAM for enterprises](https://startwithidentity.com/rankings/best-iam-for-enterprises/) ranking, and [what is IDaaS](https://startwithidentity.com/guides/fundamentals/what-is-idaas/).