Tabatha O’Connor, CEDIA’s global president and CEO, has announced she will be leaving the organisation at the end of her contact period in January next year.
O’Connor has witness CEDIA go through profound transformations throughout her 18-year career with the association. In 2016, CEDIA integrated it North American and worldwide operations to form a single integrated global organisation, which resulted in more efficient operations, more consistent member experience, and a stronger brand presence.
In the following year, the association sold it North American tradeshow to Emerald Expositions while retaining ownership of the education programme.
This year, CEDIA has launched a number of global virtual events in response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The CEDIASTRONG series of webinars, roundtables, and event has engaged thousands of CEDIA members since April 2020 and resulted in a wealth of new resources for the residential custom integration community, including the new CEDIASTRONG Scholarship Fund.
O’Connor’s leadership during this tumultuous time has helped CEDIA to stay connected to its member community and provide timely resources to address the crisis.
“The CEDIA board is grateful for Tabatha’s leadership in executing a number of critical strategic initiatives over the last three years,” commented Robert Sutherland, CEDIA’s board chair. “She has helped CEDIA transition from a trade show organisation to an industry association focused squarely on meeting its members’ most critical needs.
“She leaves us well positioned to continue as the global leader in custom integration education, training, certification, and workforce development.”
CEDIA will launch a global search for a new president and CEO over the next several months. In the interim, O’Connor will transition her duties to the CEDIA board of directors.