Technology Innovation Institute Appoints Eminent Technologist Dr Ray O. Johnson as CEO
2.8.2021 16:54:00 EEST | Business Wire | Press release
Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the applied research pillar of the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), the overarching advanced technology body in Abu Dhabi responsible for driving research and development for transformative technology outcomes, today announced the appointment of veteran technologist and entrepreneur Dr Ray O. Johnson as Chief Executive Officer. Dr Johnson will work on shaping the strategic direction of the Institute and lead the execution of its growth strategies to achieve operational excellence.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210802005462/en/
Dr Ray O. Johnson, Chief Executive Officer, Technology Innovation Institute (Photo: AETOSWire)
Prior to joining TII, Dr Johnson was an Operating Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners, a top-tier American venture capital company that has been part of 130 IPOs in the last 50 years, and before that, he was the Corporate Senior Vice President for Engineering, Technology, and Operations and Chief Technology Officer of the Lockheed Martin Corporation.
Dr Johnson brings to his role over four decades of experience in global technology leadership, making strategic investments in disruptive technologies, and developing business strategies that resulted in several new billion-dollar lines of business. He also holds outstanding networking capabilities; he has met with leaders at the highest echelons of government, industry, and academia. He is frequently sought after as a speaker at global forums on business, strategy, innovation, and education.
Speaking on the new appointment, His Excellency Faisal Al Bannai, Secretary General of ATRC, said: “We welcome Dr Ray Johnson as the first CEO of Technology Innovation Institute. His appointment is a much anticipated one – we were keen that the person entrusted with this role should not merely be an excellent research and technology specialist, but equally, a consummate professional and industry stakeholder that is capable of ensuring the most positive outcomes for the breakthrough projects TII is currently engaged in across its seven initial dedicated research centres.
“We are confident Dr Johnson will be able to build game-changing synergies for TII as he leads it towards realising its wider goals of growing its talented global team of 375+ researchers, scientists, and engineers, and ensuring the objectives of the current workstreams are met. He will also leverage his vast network to further expand our visibility and reach across markets.”
For his part, Dr Ray O. Johnson said: “I am very excited about this new role in a region that I admire for its dedication to advanced research and development for the betterment of the UAE. Since TII’s inception in November 2020, I have followed its many announcements and achievements with great interest. As it moves into a new phase of growth, I look forward to working with the talented teams of researchers across its centres to drive competitive results and facilitate breakthrough solutions that transition to the market.”
Technology Innovation Institute (TII) is a pioneering global research and development centre that focuses on applied research and new-age technology capabilities. The Institute has seven initial dedicated research centres in quantum, autonomous robotics, cryptography, advanced materials, digital security, directed energy, and secure systems. By working with exceptional talent, universities, research institutions and industry partners from all over the world, the Institute connects an intellectual community and contributes to building an R&D ecosystem in Abu Dhabi and the UAE, reinforces the status of Abu Dhabi and the UAE as a global hub for innovation, and contributes to the broader development of the knowledge-based economy.
For information on Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), visit www.atrc.ae
For information on Technology Innovation Institute (TII), visit www.tii.ae
*Source: AETOSWire
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210802005462/en/
Contact information
Technology Innovation Institute
Hanz Valbuena
hanz.valbuena@tii.ae
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Xsolla Sponsors Game Camp France, Reinforcing Commitment to France’s Dynamic Games Ecosystem17.6.2026 16:47:00 EEST | Press release
Xsolla, a global video game commerce company that helps developers launch, grow, and monetize their games, today announced its sponsorship of Game Camp France this 18-19 June 2026. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260617351463/en/ Graphic: Xsolla The French video game industry is widely recognized as one of the most vibrant in Europe, with revenue reaching approximately €5.8 billion in 2025. Rather than a centralized market, it is a patchwork of regional scenes, each with its own communities, creative identity, and business dynamics. Game Camp France plays a key role in bringing these diverse voices together, creating a centralized space for collaboration, exchange, and growth. By sponsoring Game Camp France, Xsolla is investing directly in the local ecosystem and the developers who power it. Xsolla will be on-site to engage with studios, share insights, showcase its product offerings, and better understand the
The Estée Lauder Companies and Jo Malone London Launch Experience That Turns Visual Taste into a Personalized Fragrance Wardrobe, exclusively on Pinterest17.6.2026 16:26:00 EEST | Press release
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE: EL) and Jo Malone London today announced the launch of Scent Scanner, a first-of-its-kind experience available exclusively on Pinterest and rolling out in the US and France. The experience translates the visual preferences people have expressed across their Pinterest boards into personalized Jo Malone London fragrance recommendations. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260617962807/en/ Building on the success of Jo Malone London's AI Scent Advisor, introduced in 2025, Scent Scanner offers a new way for consumers to find their personalized scent, shifting the starting point from words to images. While the AI Scent Advisor invited consumers to describe the scent they were seeking, Scent Scanner reads visual inspiration – imagery, color palettes, textures, destinations, rituals and aesthetics – to suggest fragrances suited to each individual. The custom Pinterest experience bri
Azul Addresses the Java Runtime Security Blind Spot Autonomous AI Can Now Exploit17.6.2026 16:00:00 EEST | Press release
Azul, the trusted leader in enterprise Java for today’s AI and cloud-first world, today launched a free JVM vulnerability risk assessment to address the blind spot that autonomous AI exploitation tools are increasingly able to find. With mean time to exploit (MTTE) collapsing from months to days or hours, the unmanaged Java estate has become an urgent enterprise security vulnerability. Azul’s assessment gives DevOps and SecOps teams complete visibility into the hidden risks embedded in the runtime of their Java estate before threat actors get there first, and is designed to complement the broader security, licensing and compliance solutions and services delivered by Azul’s trusted partners. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260617352753/en/ Azul's JVM Vulnerability Risk Assessment dashboard. The Threat Landscape Has Transformed For most of Java’s enterprise history, a sophisticated exploit required a sophisticat
Hologic’s New Sustainability Report Marks 40 Years of Impact17.6.2026 16:00:00 EEST | Press release
Hologic, Inc., a global leader in women’s health, today released its 2025 Sustainability Report. The new report coincides with Hologic’s 40th anniversary and underscores how the company’s longstanding purpose — to enable healthier lives for women everywhere, every day — continues to drive progress for patients, communities and the planet. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260617160174/en/ Hologic 2025 Sustainability Report “We have always firmly believed that our success as a company is fundamentally tied to our ability and commitment to help women worldwide live healthier lives,” said Sharon Vidal, Chief Sustainability Officer at Hologic. “Together with our customers and partners, we’re taking measurable steps to increase global access to innovative medical technologies while pursuing a more sustainable and equitable future for all.” Hologic’s Sustainability Report details progress on environmental sustainabili
Fortegra Strengthens Actuarial Leadership with Appointment of Anthony Katz as SVP, Reserving17.6.2026 16:00:00 EEST | Press release
The Fortegra Group, Inc., a global specialty insurer, today announced the appointment of Anthony Katz as Senior Vice President, Reserving. Mr. Katz will lead Fortegra’s team of professional actuaries, with responsibility for reserving, credit insurance, statistical reporting, and key initiatives including IFRS 17. “Anthony brings more than 30 years of actuarial expertise and a genuine commitment to building the capabilities our distribution partners depend on,” said Rick Kahlbaugh, Chief Executive Officer at Fortegra. “His background across reserving, actuarial transformation, and international markets will be instrumental as we continue to support our distribution partners.” A credentialed actuary holding FCAS, FSA, and MAAA designations, Mr. Katz brings more than 30 years of experience across reserving, pricing, and actuarial transformation. He has held senior leadership roles at ToaRe, Everest Re, Arch Insurance, Ernst & Young, and ACE, and most recently served as an independent con
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom