Former Intel CEO and chairman of the ITLG Craig Barrett (left) with former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and ITLG co-founder John Hartnett
Waterford Institute of Technology’s innovation and R&D centre, the Telecommunication Software & Systems Group (TSSG), has appointed seasoned Silicon Valley executive John Hartnett as chairman of its board.
Since 1996, TSSG has worked with more than 425 academic and industry leaders around the globe, and is a valuable resource for the domestic ICT industry. Since 2006, TSSG has engaged with more than 90 Irish companies to help improve their competitiveness through problem solving, R&D, knowledge transfer and technology development projects.
The Irish Technology Leadership Group (ITLG) is an independent organisation headquartered in Silicon Valley comprised of high-level technology leaders around the world who are Irish or Irish-American.
The ITLG includes senior executives from some of the valley’s leading corporations, each of whom are committed to promoting the technology connection between Ireland and Silicon Valley, and helping Ireland address the challenges of embracing new technology opportunities.
Hartnett was previously CEO of G24 Innovations, and before that was senior vice-president of Global Markets at Palm, Inc., where he was responsible for worldwide sales, service and support. He was also executive vice-president of worldwide operations, service, support and e-commerce at Handspring, Inc., and was an integral member of the executive leadership team that led the 2003 merger of Handspring and palmOne to form Palm.
“John’s leadership at such well-known companies as Palm, HandSpring, Metacreations, Claris, AT&T and Digital Equipment will be a valuable asset to the TSSG as we continue our focus on industry-driven research and commercialisation strategy,” said Barry Downes, executive director, TSSG Innovation and Commercialisation Centre.
“John has a deep understanding of the challenges facing Ireland in creating new technology companies and, in addition, the ITLG opens up additional opportunities for Irish software companies in Silicon Valley,” Downes added.
“I am looking forward to bringing a global industry perspective and to creating a gateway to Silicon Valley for WIT & TSSG,” Hartnett commented.
