The World Innovation, Technology and Services Alliance Appoints New CEO

MEDIA RELEASEMay 6, 2022Contact: Mr. Yannis Sirros. Mobile: +30 (6) 9 44 77 88 18 E: Yannis@WITSA.orgMr. Dan E. Khoo. Mobile +60 12-650 8392 E: danekhoo@witsa.orgDr. Jim Poisant. Mobile +1 703 728-4547 E: jpoisant@witsa.orgThe World Innovation, Technology and Services Alliance Appoints New CEO Fairfax, VA: The World Innovation, Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) today appointed Dato Dan E. Khoo as its new Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Khoo will work alongside Secretary General Dr. Jim Poisant until his retirement on September 30, 2022.

“After many years at the helm of WITSA, Jim will be retiring at the end of September, following the World Congress on Innovation and Technology in Penang, Malaysia, our flagship event,” stated WITSA Chairman Yannis Sirros. “Jim is responsible for leading WITSA to the great organization that it is today, growing the organization and developing our hugely successful WCIT brand. Jim has been a cornerstone of WITSA for over 25 years, and it is hard to envisage a future without his steadfast leadership, marketing skills, and vision. But, in the words of Heraclitus, ‘There is nothing permanent except change’,” continued Mr. Sirros.“After extensive vetting and a competitive recruitment outreach, WITSA has chosen a uniquely qualified individual in Dan E Khoo, who has previously served as the Chairman of WITSA,” said WITSA Secretary General Dr. Jim Poisant. “In addition, Dan organized the highly successful World Congress in Kuala Lumpur in 2008, which hosted more than 3,300 delegates from 92 countries, 105 speakers, and over $10 million in sponsorships! He has been involved with WITSA for more than 25 years, first as a speaker at our World Congress in Bilbao, Spain. I am therefore extremely pleased to welcome Dan back to our esteemed organization!” continued Dr. Poisant.“I am honored and privileged to return to WITSA in this executive capacity. WITSA’s unique alliance of tech industry associations from over 80 countries and economies provides a global platform and an exciting opportunity to impact change on a global scale. I look forward to contributing towards an organization that is the leading recognized voice of the global tech industry, a key driver of digital transformation and the global economy, and an advocate of international public policies that advance the industry’s growth and development,” stated Dan Khoo.About Dato’ Dan E Khoo: Born in Penang, Dato’ Dan E Khoo has a lifelong passion for technology, strategy and entrepreneurship. His global outlook is shaped by leadership experience in California’s Silicon Valley, Malaysia, Vietnam and Hong Kong with roles in private enterprise, non-profit and the public sector. Entrepreneurship exits with a trade sale of a tech startup to a Nasdaq-listed enterprise at the height of the dot-com boom and an IPO in Bursa Malaysia came after he led the creation of technology sections in two English-language newspapers. Khoo’s involvement in non-profit organizations led to stints as Chairman of the National Tech Association of Malaysia (PIKOM), Director of The Asian-Oceanian Computing Industry Organization (ASOCIO), President of the Southeast-Asia Information Technology Organization (SITO) and Chairman of WITSA. He has also served as Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation’s Head of Strategy and as President of MDEC Americas Inc in Palo Alto, California. He has won multiple awards including the WITSA Lifetime Achievement Award and PIKOM Man of the Year.About WITSA: The World Innovation, Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) is the leading recognized international voice of the global digital technology industry, whose members from over 80 countries and economies represent more than 90 percent of the world ICT market. WITSA is dedicated to advocating policies that advance industry growth and development; facilitating international trade and investment in digital technology products and services; strengthening WITSA’s national industry associations; and providing members with a broad network of professional contacts.WITSA members are leaders in a globally interconnected marketplace. Because the challenges facing the digital technology industry are undisputedly global in nature, WITSA members work together to achieve a shared vision on important issues of common interest. WITSA makes it possible for its members - ranging from Mongolia and Argentina to Kenya and the United States - to identify common issues and priorities, exchange valuable information, and present a united position on industry issues. For more information on WITSA, please visit https://witsa.org/.