CTIA Announces Ajit Pai as New CEO and President

CTIA, the wireless industry association, announced that Ajit Pai has been named President and Chief Executive Officer, effective April 1. Pai will join CTIA from Searchlight Capital Partners. He will replace Meredith Attwell Baker, who announced her retirement in December and has served in the role since 2014. Prior to joining Searchlight Capital Partners in 2021, Pai served in senior leadership roles in the Federal Communications Commission for almost a decade. In particular, he was designated by President Donald Trump as Chairman of the FCC in 2017, where he advanced major initiatives to help close the digital divide, promote U.S. leadership in 5G, encourage innovation, and safeguard consumers and national security. He previously had served as a Commissioner at the FCC, appointed by President Barack Obama in 2012.