About
Herbert received a BSc in computational science from the Leeds University (opens in new tab) in 1975, and a PhD in Computer Science from Cambridge University (opens in new tab) in 1978 for his work on “A Microprogrammed Operating System Kernel”.
In 1978 he started working at the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory (opens in new tab) as assistant lecturer under Maurice Wilkes (opens in new tab) and Roger Needham in the Computer Laboratory, and worked with others on the “Cambridge Model Distributed System”. In 1985 he left Cambridge to found his own contract research company (Architecture Projects Ltd – APM Ltd), which led projects to develop ANSA, the Advanced Network Systems Architecture. In 1996 he had founded another sister company called Digitivity to develop a product to enable the secure deployment of Java clients for business-to-business applications. Two years later he joined Citrix Systems Inc. following their acquisition of APM and Digitivity to become Director of Advanced Technology. In 2001, he joined Microsoft Research in Cambridge (opens in new tab) as an assistant director and became managing director in April 2003. In 2010, he became chairman of Microsoft Research EMEA. He retired from Microsoft in September 2011.
Herbert is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (opens in new tab), a Fellow of the British Computer Society (opens in new tab) and a Liveryman of the City of London Worshipful Company of Information Technologists. He is an Emeritus Fellow of Wolfson College, Cambridge (opens in new tab) and a member of St John’s College, Cambridge (opens in new tab).
Herbert was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (opens in new tab) (OBE) in the 2010 New Year Honours.