Contact: Chris Grimm – cgrimm@appdevelopersalliance.org
Developers Alliance Announces New Leadership and Expanded Mission
Bruce Gustafson Named New CEO, Will Focus on Representing All Software Developers
Washington, D.C. – The Developers Alliance (formerly Application Developers Alliance) today announced that Co-Founder, President and CEO Jake Ward is stepping down and handing the reins to Bruce Gustafson, a Senior Policy Advisor to the Alliance and former head of the Washington D.C. office of Ericsson, an international communications technology company.
“It has been my pleasure to be with the Alliance since its founding in 2012 and to work with hundreds of innovative companies and tens of thousands of talented developers to give voice to the industry,” said Ward. “My pride for the work we have done is exceeded only by my excitement for the future of the Alliance, and I can think of no one better suited to lead us into the next phase of growth and success.”
Incoming President and CEO Bruce Gustafson has extensive experience in the technology sector, both in communications and public policy. Gustafson spent more than 20 years at Nortel Networks and more than five years at Ericsson, where he served as the North America Head of Brand and Internal Communications and then as the Vice President of Government and Industry Affairs.
“It is my honor to accept the position of President and CEO of the Developers Alliance from my friend and colleague Jake Ward,” Gustafson added. “Software has come a long way; from programs on computers to apps on mobile phones to a world with numerous interconnected devices. Our daily interaction with software is increasingly continuous, contextually optimized, and distributed across a wide array of devices, improving the way we live, work and play. Software is powering the world and it is our job to support that growth and advocate on behalf of the developer workforce and companies that depend on them.”
Alliance Board of Directors Vice Chair, Josh Hartwell said “As an original board member of the Developers Alliance, I couldn’t be more excited to see an individual with such impeccable credentials continuing and expanding the critical work of advocating for all developers.”
“I’ve been privileged to work with Bruce for the past year or so on a range of policy issues. He has a wealth of knowledge on myriad policy issues and topics, and a keen sense of how best to represent our diverse and passionate membership,” said Board Member and Innovators Policy Council Chairman, Ayinde Alakoye. “We have accomplished much, but there is much left to do.”
“I’m excited about the future developers are helping to create for all of us,” added Gustafson. “There’s nowhere I’d rather be than leading the charge for them in Washington and Brussels.”
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The Developers Alliance is the world’s leading advocate for software developers and the companies invested in their success. Alliance members include industry leaders in consumer, enterprise, industrial, and emerging software development, and a global network of more than 70,000 developers.
