Fairfax, Virginia: At its November 17, 2020 General Assembly meeting, the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) elected a diverse slate of leaders for the 2020-22 term, including 23 Directors from four continents.

WITSA elected Federation of Hellenic Information Technology and Communications Enterprises (SEPE) Executive Director Mr. Yannis Sirros as Chairman for the 2020-2022 term. Mr. Sirros is well-known throughout the WITSA community, having served in various capacities in support of WITSA for 20 years, including most recently as WITSA’s Deputy Chairman. Mr. Sirros also successfully hosted WITSA’s flagship event, the World Congress on IT, in Athens, Greece in 2004. Mr. Sirros is a member of the Task Force of the European IT Observatory (EITO) and an Executive Board member of DIGITALEUROPE, the European digital industry technology organization.

During the General Assembly meeting, Mr. Yannis Sirros presented his vision for the global industry alliance to become the leading industry voice and a global digital ambassador for a new digital future. Mr. Sirros laid out a four-pillar strategy to achieve these goals, including: (1) building the WITSA brand, (2) enhancing WITSA’s public policy leadership, (3) increasing value for WITSA’s members, and (4) ensuring long-term financial stability by developing new revenue streams. Going forward, Mr. Sirros will work to strengthen WITSA’s ties with globally recognized institutions, develop a strong common industry digital agenda, and enhance WITSA’s public policy role by driving awareness and promoting greater international economic cooperation. Mr. Sirros’ top public policy priorities include improving the quality of digital skills and leadership in the workforce, driving innovation throughout the industry,

such as in AI, robotics, privacy, security, and smart cities, and promoting and enhancing women’s role in the digital technology industry and digital economy.

“We all must work closely together to increase WITSA's reach and capabilities”, stated Mr. Sirros. “Everyone’s ideas and proposals are crucial and vital if we are to succeed and strengthen our role. I am committed to dedicating my time, experience, efforts, business and personal relations to realize WITSA's true potential, bringing added value to each and everyone's local organization and market”, continued Mr. Sirros. “Our industry's dream is not something we will never achieve. Our Dream is what we have not achieved yet! Let us “build a new digital world” all together.”

Mr. Sirros noted that, during these unpreceded times that we are all experiencing, the pandemic of COVID-19 has affected global and local economies, and societies all over the world. It has challenged and changed drastically the way we work, move, socialize, think, and live. “There is no doubt that the current crisis of the pandemic has brought in the global forefront the necessity of digitization in every sector of the economy, in every aspect of our life, stated Mr. Sirros. “I believe we can do so much more. For our future, for our homelands, for the technology’s role in the global economy, for each and every one of us. This can only be achieved if we join our forces and synthesize our views and strategies.”

“On behalf of the entire global WITSA community, I am delighted to welcome Yannis Sirros as our new Chairman”, expressed WITSA’s Secretary General Dr. Jim Poisant. “With so many challenges facing our industry in these troubled times, I am confident that with Mr. Sirros’ trusted leadership and support, as well as friendship, we will continue to build on WITSA’s many accomplishments to ensure that WITSA will continue to grow and reach new levels of success”, continued Dr. Poisant.