Robin J. Cohen, President of the Enterprise Wireless Alliance (EWA), has been appointed to the additional role of Chief Executive Officer, the Alliance announced today. Ms. Cohen also will join the EWA Board of Directors.
Cohen follows Mark E. Crosby, who has served as CEO since 1975, including through its transition to the Alliance in 2005. Mr. Crosby will become EWA’s Chief Strategy Officer, an advisor to Ms. Cohen. These leadership changes become effective January 1, 2022, and are part of a succession plan approved by the Board of Directors in May 2021.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to work with EWA’s professional staff and the Board of Directors in serving the Alliance’s members; businesses using wireless technologies in nearly every sector of the U.S. economy,” said Cohen. “Whether they are business enterprises, private carrier operators, wireless sales and service organizations, or private wireless equipment vendors, EWA’s member companies and organizations are driving innovation and job creation in our economy.”
Ms. Cohen joined the Alliance staff in 2016 as Executive Director of Regulatory Affairs and Spectrum Strategies. She later led that team as Vice President. In 2020, Ms. Cohen was named Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and in June 2021, she became President of the Alliance.
During these five years, Ms. Cohen has led a number of spectrum policy and business initiatives including the implementation of the 900 MHz Transition Services Agreement with Anterix and the Medical Body Area Networks (MBAN) registration capability at 2.3 GHz under an agreement with the Federal Communications Commission. She had led the Alliance’s efforts to maximize industry access to 800 MHz and T-Band spectrum. Cohen has also played a leading role in facilitating the shared use of wireless networks by business enterprises and public safety organizations across the U.S.
“Robin is the ideal person to lead the Enterprise Wireless Alliance,” said Geno Viviano, Chairman of the EWA Board of Directors and President of Vivi International. “From her first day since joining the staff in 2016, Robin has consistently delivered results for EWA members, making membership in the Alliance essential for any business.”
“The EWA has had great success over the last several years, and I am proud to have played a role in that,” said Crosby. “I look forward to working under Robin’s leadership and assisting with the development of EWA’s strategic plans for the future.”
Prior to joining EWA in 2016, Ms. Cohen worked nearly two decades in the wireless industry, first at Nextel Communications and later at Sprint Corporation (now T-Mobile) where she served as a critical participant in Sprint’s regulatory affairs team. While at Sprint, she twice received Sprint’s Circle of Excellence Award for outstanding achievement.