Gary Shapiro, CEO, Consumer Technology Association (CTA)®, Producer CES
Gary Shapiro is an acclaimed author, lobbyist, and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)® which represents over 1300 consumer technology companies and owns and produces CES® — The Global Stage for Innovation.
Over a more than 30-year tenure as head of CTA, Shapiro expanded the association’s influence and impact alongside the growth of the technology industry. He has also transformed CES, expanding its reach globally to attract exhibitors from more than 50 countries, regions, and territories and attendees from some 150. Drawing big global brands and innovative new startups alike, CES is both the world’s most powerful technology show and one of the most transparent – adhering to rigorous auditing standards and making attendance data publicly available.
A Georgetown Law graduate, Shapiro worked on Capitol Hill and served as an associate at the Squire Sanders law firm before joining CTA in 1982. This legal experience and a passion for advancing policies that empower entrepreneurs and unlock technology innovation has earned him annual recognition as one of The Hill’s top lobbyists; Washingtonian’s Tech Titans; and Washington Life magazine’s most influential people in Washington. In 2021, Shapiro was recognized with the prestigious Legion of Honor Award, conferred by French President Emmanuel Macron.
Shapiro has embraced a people-first approach to the workplace, directing a staff of 150 employees and hundreds of industry volunteers. Under his leadership, CTA has won numerous awards for its healthy workplace, family friendly employment practices, and environmentally friendly exhibition practices.
A New York Times bestselling author, Shapiro has written “Ninja Future: Secrets to Success in the New World of Innovation” (HarperCollins, 2019), “Ninja Innovation: The Ten Killer Strategies of the World’s Most Successful Businesses” (HarperCollins, 2013) and “The Comeback: How Innovation will Restore the American Dream” (Beaufort, 2011). His fourth book, “Pivot or Die: How Leaders Thrive When Everything Changes,” will be published by HarperCollins in October 2024. Through these books, numerous television appearances, and as a columnist whose more than 1200 opinion pieces have appeared in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and The Washington Post, Shapiro directs policymakers and business leaders on the importance of innovation and technology in the U.S. economy. He has also testified before Congress over 20 times, advancing the technology industry’s perspective on cutting-edge issues including intellectual property, artificial intelligence and self-driving vehicles.
Shapiro is active in policy, thought leadership, government, and community development alongside his position at CTA. He sits on numerous boards and advisory councils, including the Northern Virginia Technology Council, CEO Update Roundtable, Council of Manufacturing Associations board, and Focused Ultrasound Foundation board.
Shapiro holds a JD from the Georgetown University Law Center and a BA in economics and psychology from Binghamton University.