Technical professional society IEEE has announced the appointment of Dr. E. James (Jim) Prendergast as its new executive director. He succeeds former IEEE Executive Director Jeffry W. Raynes, who resigned in June 2008.
Dr. Prendergast will assume the role 6 April 2009. In his new position, he will serve as chief operating officer and will manage the more than 1,000 IEEE staff members at seven US and overseas locations. Prior to this, he served as vice president and chief technology officer for DuPont Electronic and Communication Technologies in Wilmington, Del.
With 375,000 members across 160 countries, IEEE is projected as an authority on several areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power and consumer electronics. It publishes 30 percent of the world's literature in the electrical and electronics engineering and computer science fields and has developed nearly 900 active industry standards. The organisation is commemorating its 125th anniversary in 2009 by celebrating 125 years of engineering the future around the globe.
