In a statement emailed this morning, HTSA announced they’ve opened a search for a Managing Director. The announcement, part of a planned leadership transition that will run through the end of this year, represents the first major leadership change for the group in over a decade.
Jon Robbins, the current Executive Director of the group who’s been at the help since December 2015, plans to stay on through the end of the year, with that timeline reportedly not set in stone. With the unpredictable nature of executive searches, the group said they’d be willing to adjust the target date in order to find the “right person, not just the first available candidate.”
Robbins acknowledged that this is not a retirement for him. He will continue to work full-time on behalf of the organization through December 31. Beyond that, he plans to continue his career in the industry, with “the specifics of that next chapter still to be defined.” The goal, the group said, would be to have the timing align to where Robbins can help onboard and transition the new Managing Director in order to leave them with a “deep understanding of HTSA’s culture and community from day one.”
The Managing Director role is currently posted on TheCoTeam website, with the following description:
The Managing Director is the Visionary leader of HTSA. This role partners with the Board of Directors to define and evolve HTSA’s long-term strategy, brand positioning, and industry impact. The Managing Director focuses on big-picture direction, strategic partnerships, high-level member and vendor relationships, and ensuring HTSA leads the industry in technology, education, and business best practices.
The Managing Director does not manage day-to-day operations; instead, they work closely with the HTSA Staff to translate strategy into execution, maintain cultural health, and ensure accountability for results.
HTSA said this transition has no impact on their commitment of supporting its members and vendor partners, as well as its growing collaboration with AVIXA and ProSource on the new co-located RESIDE event at InfoComm that “builds on the legacy of Lightapalooza.”
