Viber CEO Ofir Eyal Shares Journey From Reluctant Programmer to Leading Global Tech Firm
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Ofir Eyal, once a reluctant programmer and military prison guard, is now CEO of Viber, a global messaging app owned by Japan's Rakuten. Since joining in 2014, he rose to lead 600 employees, navigating cultural challenges and expanding Viber’s presence in markets like the Philippines and Greece. After exiting Russia due to the Ukraine war, Viber returned to profitability and integrates AI to boost growth.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Ofir Eyal rose from poor student and military prison guard to CEO of Viber with 600 employees.
- He joined Viber in 2014 after its $900 million sale to Japan’s Rakuten and became CEO 4.5 years ago.
- Viber dominates markets like the Philippines and Greece but struggles in Israel and Japan.
- The company exited Russia post-2022 Ukraine invasion, losing 40% of users and revenue.
- Viber returned to profitability in 2024 and expects record profits in 2025.
- Eyal emphasizes employee-first leadership and integrates AI features like ChatGPT to enhance the app.
Ofir Eyal, CEO of the messaging app Viber, has risen from a struggling computer student and military prison guard to lead a global company with 600 employees, including 200 in Israel. In an interview with N12 Business, Eyal recounted his unconventional career path, which began with poor academic performance in computer science and a challenging military service guarding high-risk prisoners. Despite early setbacks and no university degree, he advanced through roles in software testing and product management by embracing new responsibilities without demanding immediate rewards.
Eyal joined Viber in 2014 shortly after its $900 million acquisition by Japanese tech giant Rakuten. He initially served as product vice president before becoming CEO 4.5 years ago. Rakuten, with nearly 29,000 employees worldwide and $14 billion in annual revenue, values Eyal’s leadership style that balances openness and results while prioritizing employee well-being. He described cultural challenges managing a Japanese-owned company, noting differences in hierarchy and communication styles.
Viber’s strongest markets are outside Israel and Japan, including the Philippines, Greece, Bulgaria, and Eastern Europe, where it commands over 50% smartphone penetration. The company exited Russia following the 2022 Ukraine invasion, which had accounted for 40% of its users and revenue. Despite losses in 2022-2023, Viber returned to profitability in 2024 and expects record profits in 2025.
Eyal acknowledged the difficulty of competing with WhatsApp in Israel and dominant local players in Japan but emphasized Viber’s global reach in over 190 countries. He highlighted the integration of AI features like ChatGPT to enhance user experience and aims to increase average revenue per user from a few dollars to over $10. Eyal dismissed fears of Viber fading like past tech acquisitions, asserting the app remains Rakuten’s primary gateway outside Japan.
Reflecting on his journey, Eyal stressed resilience and adaptability, crediting his military experience for building confidence. He remains focused on sustainable growth and cultural understanding as key to leading a multinational tech company.
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