LoRa Alliance Appoints New CEO and Board Chair to Drive Massive IoT Growth
The LoRa Alliance®, the global association of companies supporting the open LoRaWAN® standard for internet of things (IoT) low-power wide-area networks (LPWANs), has announced the appointment of Alper Yegin as CEO and Olivier Beaujard as Board Chair. This leadership change comes as LoRaWAN enters a period of rapid global deployment, marking a new era of growth known as the ‘hockey stick ramp’ within the Massive IoT sector.
The LoRa Alliance has progressed through two major phases since its inception nine years ago. The first was a startup phase focused on developing the LoRaWAN specification and establishing the organization itself. The second phase centered on building a robust organizational structure, formalizing processes, and raising visibility for LoRaWAN. The Alliance is now entering its third phase, characterized by the widespread adoption and scaling of LoRaWAN.
With several large enterprise brands already leveraging LoRaWAN for their services, and global network availability reaching an all-time high across terrestrial, community, and NTN satellite options, the LoRaWAN ecosystem is thriving. This robust ecosystem, coupled with a diverse range of LoRaWAN end-devices, promises a strong growth trajectory for the technology.
Experienced Leadership to Navigate a New Era
The search committee, led by ZENNER’s Rich Sanders, sought a leader with the expertise and vision to guide the LoRa Alliance through this exciting period of growth. Alper Yegin stood out for his significant contributions to the development of LoRaWAN technology and his deep understanding of the market and customer needs. Yegin’s extensive experience with wireless communication standards and alliance leadership, spanning 25 years and including roles in the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), and the Zigbee Alliance, made him the ideal candidate for the CEO position.
Yegin’s previous eight years as Chair of the Technical Committee and six years as Alliance Vice Chair, combined with his leadership experience at Actility in areas such as technology development, product marketing, business development, and deployment support, make him well-equipped to navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead. He is confident in LoRaWAN’s position as the strongest LPWAN technology in the market, particularly in its ability to support Massive IoT deployments.
New Structure for Enhanced Efficiency and Accountability
The LoRa Alliance is also adopting a new operating structure, separating the CEO and Board Chair roles. This move aligns with industry best practices and is designed to promote efficiency and accountability within the organization. The CEO will be responsible for providing strategic leadership and managing the day-to-day operations of the Alliance, while the Board Chair and Board of Directors will provide oversight and governance.
Semtech’s Olivier Beaujard has been elected as the first Board Chair for a one-year term. Beaujard, alongside Yegin, will work collaboratively to propel the LoRa Alliance and its ecosystem to new heights.
Expanding the Board with a Focus on Smart Metering
The LoRa Alliance has further strengthened its leadership by welcoming Ahmed Kasttet of Birdz to its Board of Directors. Kasttet brings over 25 years of experience in operating radio networks, overseeing a network of more than six million devices for Veolia, a leading global water utility. His expertise in smart metering was instrumental in enabling the deployment of over three million LoRaWAN water meters, making it the largest LoRaWAN water metering project globally. Kasttet also played a crucial role in the development of M-Bus over LPWAN and OMS over LoRaWAN standards within the LoRa Alliance.
Kasttet’s addition to the Board brings valuable experience in the smart metering sector, which is experiencing rapid growth in LoRaWAN deployments. His presence will enhance representation for end-device manufacturers and utilities, providing a stronger voice for end-customers in the Alliance’s leadership.
The LoRa Alliance is poised for continued growth and innovation under its new leadership structure. The organization remains dedicated to driving the adoption of the LoRaWAN standard, ensuring a robust and secure IoT ecosystem for the future. With its focus on scalability, interoperability, and a commitment to addressing the needs of its diverse membership, the LoRa Alliance is well-positioned to shape the future of the connected world.
