Brent Laufenberg Appointed CIO of the Global Electronics Association, Advancing Technology and Member Services
July 31, 2025 | Global Electronics AssociationEstimated reading time: 2 minutes

The Global Electronics Association (formerly IPC International Inc.) announces the appointment of Brent Laufenberg as its new Chief Information Officer (CIO).
As CIO, Laufenberg will serve as a strategic partner to the CEO and executive leadership team, overseeing the implementation of a modern IT infrastructure and advancing the Association’s vision to become a data-informed and AI-accelerated global organization.
“Brent brings a rare combination of technical expertise, strategic vision, and deep understanding of how to use technology as a driver of business value,” said John W. Mitchell, Global Electronics Association president and CEO. “His leadership will be instrumental as we enter a new chapter focused on leveraging AI, data, and digital tools to serve our members in smarter, more personalized, and more impactful ways.”
Laufenberg’s priorities will include:
- Technology Strategy & Execution: Crafting and implementing a business-aligned technology roadmap that supports growth and delivers a competitive advantage for members.
- AI & Data Innovation: Championing AI adoption and building a data-driven culture to enhance decision-making, productivity, and insight.
- Member Experience Transformation: Leading the development of intuitive, personalized digital platforms that elevate member engagement and satisfaction.
- Organizational Enablement: Inspiring cross-functional collaboration and embedding technology as a strategic accelerator across the association.
- Security & Risk Management: Ensuring a secure, compliant, and resilient technology environment.
- Operational Efficiency: Managing IT investments and partnerships to deliver measurable value and performance.
“As the global electronics industry and supply chain continues to evolve, we have a responsibility to match that transformation in how we support our members,” Laufenberg said. “Every member experience—whether it’s training and certification, seamlessly leveraging our standards, gaining deeper industry insights, or creating new technology solutions to accelerate innovation—should be intuitive, personalized, and undeniably valuable. I’m excited to join the Global Electronics Association at such a pivotal time and look forward to helping expand the impact we can make through smart, strategic use of technology.”
Laufenberg joins the Association with more than two decades of technology leadership experience in complex, global organizations, most recently serving as chief technology officer at Rise, an omnichannel media agency. “Brent’s proven ability to lead digital transformation and his passion for innovation will be instrumental as the association continues to evolve to meet the needs of the global electronics industry,” added Mitchell.
Laufenberg works from the headquarters office in Bannockburn, Ill., and can be reached at BrentLaufenberg@electronics.org.
Testimonial
"We’re proud to call I-Connect007 a trusted partner. Their innovative approach and industry insight made our podcast collaboration a success by connecting us with the right audience and delivering real results."
Julia McCaffrey - NCAB GroupSuggested Items
Industry Leaders Shape a Sustainable Future at 2025 IPC CEMAC Electronics Manufacturing Annual Conference
09/30/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationThe 2025 IPC CEMAC Electronics Manufacturing Annual Conference, co-hosted by the Global Electronics Association and the Shanghai Pudong Association for Quality and Technology, successfully concluded on September 26 in Shanghai.
GlobalFoundries, Corning Collaborate to Deliver Detachable Fiber Connector Solutions
09/29/2025 | Globe NewswireGlobalFoundries announced a collaborative effort with Corning Incorporated to develop detachable fiber connector solutions for GF’s silicon photonics platform. Corning’s GlassBridge™ solution, a glass-waveguide based edge-coupler compatible with the platform’s v-grooves, is designed to meet the growing demands of AI datacenters for high bandwidth and power-efficient optical connectivity.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
09/26/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007Though the news cycle felt a little less exclamatory this week, there were many global business news headlines worth revisiting. Among them, China announced a bold carbon emissions goal of 10% over the next decade to double its solar and wind power capacity. The Wall Street Journal published an article, “Global Port Leaders See Trade Shifting, Not Slowing,” a nod to businesses’ risk mitigation strategies and execution around overreliance on China coming into play in a bigger way.
WHMA Survey Identifies Top Priorities: Design Quality & Automation Lead the Way
09/26/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationThe Wiring Harness Manufacturer’s Association (WHMA), a council of the Global Electronics Association, announced the results of an industry survey, revealing the need for systems to catch and collect errors to ensure design quality and automation to create efficiencies and reduce risk.
Winners of Hand Soldering and Wire Harness Competitions Announced at NEPCON Vietnam 2025
09/24/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationIn conjunction with NEPCON Vietnam 2025, the Global Electronics Association hosted its popular Hand Soldering Competition on September 11–12, 2025, and the Northen regional round of the Wire Harness Competition on September 10, 2025, in Hanoi, Vietnam.