17 Digital Economy Leaders Appointed by U.S. Commerce Department
When the U.S. Secretary of Commerce committed to establishing a new Board of Advisors to ensure private sector input for the Department’s new Digital Economy Agenda in November, a vast pool of applicants from industrial sectors, civil society, and academia were left to be considered. Inaugurating this expert network of appointees is an effort to charge towards a national future of advancing economic growth and opportunity in the digital age.
“I am thrilled that such a knowledgeable and diverse group of thought leaders has volunteered to serve on our new Digital Economy Board of Advisors. As we develop an agenda to help the digital economy grow and thrive, it is critical that we engage with those on the front lines of the digital revolution,” explained Secretary Penny Pritzker.
Last week, Secretary Pritzker made public the selection of just who would help take national strides towards promoting innovation and maintaining free and open Internet, trust, and accessibility for every American.
Recommendations made by the board will support the Secretary of Commerce through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which is responsible for advising President Obama on telecommunications and information policy issues.
Commerce Department’s Director of the Digital Economy, Alan Davidson will help to engage with the board with the national digital economy agenda so the Secretary and NTIA can implement the board’s recommendations.
Notable co-chairs are Zoë Baird, CEO and President of the Markle Foundation, and Mitchell Baker, Executive Chairwoman of Mozilla.
The impressive list of appointees to the Digital Economy Board of Advisors includes:
- Zoë Baird, CEO and President of the Markle Foundation
- Mitchell Baker, Executive Chairwoman of Mozilla
- Karen Bartleson, President-elect of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
- Greg Becker, President and CEO of Silicon Valley Bank and SVB Financial
- James Cicconi, Senior Executive Vice President of External and Legislative Affairs at AT&T
- David L. Cohen, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer of Comcast Corporation
- Austan Goolsbee, Robert P. Gwinn Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business
- Mindy Grossman, CEO and Director of HSN, Inc.
- Oisin Hanrahan, Co-Founder and CEO of Handy
- Sonia Katyal, Chancellor’s Professor of Law at the University of California at Berkeley School of Law
- James Manyika, Director of the McKinsey Global Institute
- William Ruh, CEO of GE Digital and Chief Digital Officer for GE
- Brad Smith, President and Chief Legal Officer at Microsoft Corporation
- Corey Thomas, President and CEO of Rapid7
- Marta Tellado, President and CEO of Consumer Reports
- Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube
- John Zimmer, Co-founder and President of Lyft
“This team of exceptional leaders will provide the Department with invaluable advice as we work to realize the full potential of the digital economy to advance economic growth and opportunity,” added Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and Administrator of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Lawrence E. Strickling.
