New York, N.Y., February 15, 2011 – Ambassador David Gross, the former top State Department official on international communications policy, has been tapped to lead the development and delivery of business views on information technology and Internet policy developments worldwide, according to the United States Council for International Business (USCIB), a top pro-trade group. Mr. Gross, a partner at the law firm Wiley Rein, has been named the new chair of USCIB’s Information, Communications and Technology Committee. He succeeds Arthur Reilly, who has retired from Cisco Systems, Inc.
“We are delighted to have someone of David’s stature leading our work in this area,” said USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson. “He brings broad worldwide credibility and a deep understanding of the challenges facing the global Internet to our efforts, and he will bolster our representation in the United Nations, the OECD and other forums. We welcome him and also thank Art Reilly for his energetic, highly professional and effective service as chair these past several years.”
Mr. Gross coordinated international communications and information policy at the Department of State from 2001 to 2009. He headed U.S. delegations to a number of high-level International Telecommunications Union (ITU) gatherings, led U.S. delegations to three APEC ministerial meetings and was the lead U.S. negotiator in the lead-up to the two-part UN World Summit on the Information Society in Geneva (2003) and Tunis (2005). Throughout his State Department tenure, Mr. Gross worked closely with industry, including USCIB, in his efforts to provide commercial and policy advocacy on behalf of U.S. companies in markets around the world.
USCIB’s ICT Committee advocates sound international policy to ensure the continued growth of ICTs, emphasizing free and fair competition, minimal government intervention, free information flows and a user orientation. It works through USCIB’s overseas network of business groups, including the International Chamber of Commerce and the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD, to secure strong industry representation and input to major multilateral discussions of ICT issues.
“I am eager to step into this new role,” said Mr. Gross. “I have long respected USCIB as the voice of U.S. business in international policy forums and its active contributions to ICT policy debates. Industry guidance and leadership will be critical if we are to secure the continued growth and vitality of the Internet and ICTs as a whole.”
USCIB promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and prudent regulation. Its members include top U.S.-based global companies and professional services firms from every sector of our economy, with operations in every region of the world. With a unique global network encompassing leading international business organizations, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide, and works to facilitate international trade and investment. More at www.uscib.org.
Contact:
Jonathan Huneke, VP Communications, USCIB
+1 212.703.5043 or jhuneke@uscib.org
More on USCIB’s Information, Communications and Technology Committee
