Edward J Zander

Edward J. Zander has spent more than 35 years in the technology sector. He has played a key role in shaping some of the major paradigm shifts in technology that impact the world today. These include the move from mainframes to minicomputers; minicomputers to workstations; PCs to networking and to the internet; hardware to software; and the revolution in wireless devices and mobility. Ed was most recently chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Motorola. During his four-year tenure, he made the RAZR the best-selling cell phone in history and reshaped Motorola's image worldwide with the popular Hello Moto campaign. He sharpened Motorola's edge in technology innovation; delivered on 12 consecutive quarters of revenue growth; streamlined the business to increase operating efficiencies worldwide; improved significantly the balance sheet and acquired and divested businesses to strengthen the company's competitive position. During his four years the company doubled its revenue and achieved double digit earnings for the first time in over a decade. Prior to Motorola, Ed was president and chief operating officer of Sun Microsystems until 2002. During his 15 years at the company, he grew Sun to $18 billion in revenues; established the company as number one in the server market; and built it into the pre-eminent supplier of network software infrastructure with Solaris and Java. In addition Ed was responsible for developing the dot in dot com campaign establishing Sun as a leader in Internet computing. Before Sun, Ed worked at Apollo Computer as VP of Marketing and data General in a number of marketing and engineering positions. Ed was also managing director at Silver Lake Partners, in 2003 a leading private equity fund, and has served on the board of directors for several technology companies. Today he is a director of Netezza Corp. Ed also served as chairman of the Technology CEO Council in Washington D.C. and has been on a number of civic and philanthropic boards. Ed is a member of the Board of Trustees at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and as a member of the Dean's Advisory Council of the School of Management at Boston University. Ed received an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and a master's degree in business administration as well as an honorary Ph.D. from Boston University.