Bangalore: Akamai Technologies, Inc., the cybersecurity and cloud computing company that powers and protects business online, announced that its co-founder and CEO, Dr. Tom Leighton, has been awarded a Technology & Engineering Emmy® Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS). The accolade recognizes Leighton for “pioneering the technologies that deliver compelling content to every device in our homes and pockets.”
“Being recognized by The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is as much of an honor as it is humbling,” said Dr. Tom Leighton. “From the start, our goal at Akamai was to improve how the internet works, a vision that thousands of our colleagues around the world relentlessly pursue to this day. As part of those efforts, we’ve managed to push the boundaries of what it means to deliver and watch TV.”
Leighton has patented over 50 developments in areas such as content delivery, internet protocols, network algorithms, cryptography, and digital rights management. These innovations have transformed the television industry, enabling audiences worldwide to stream movies, shows, and live sports in high definition at the click of a button.
“As AI drives yet another transformation of how audiences discover and consume content, I am excited to continue to power and protect the programming delivered to billions of people globally, while also helping shape the next generation of engaging entertainment experiences,” Leighton added.
This marks Leighton’s second Emmy® Award. Under his leadership, Akamai was previously honored at the 72nd Annual Technology & Engineering Emmy® Awards for “excellence in engineering creativity” for its contributions to Content Delivery Networks (CDN).
NATAS presents the Technology & Engineering Emmy® Awards annually to innovators demonstrating “excellence in a technical innovation” that enhances or revolutionizes the viewer experience. Honorees are selected by a committee of industry experts and peers.
Dr. Leighton, along with this year’s other recipients, will be celebrated at the 76th Annual Technology & Engineering Emmy® Awards Ceremony on December 4, 2025, at Prince George’s Ballroom in New York City.
