WASHINGTON, D.C. — Effective May 1, Kinsey Fabrizio will take the reins as the Consumer Technology Association’s (CTA)® President and CEO. Fabrizio has been with the association since 2008, and has successfully led major transformations and improvements over the course of her tenure at CTA to both the association itself and its flagship CES® event.
Her track record is impressive, and she takes on the title of CEO from Gary Shapiro, who has served at the association for 40 years. Shapiro led CTA through various moments of crisis and opportunity alike, and he will continue with the organization as Executive Chair.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to lead CTA into its next chapter,” Fabrizio said. “Gary is a legend; he’s been an extraordinary leader. He’s built a remarkable foundation, and I’ve learned so much from him over the past 18 years.
“I’m excited to build on that success with our team. We have an exceptional group of people, and I can’t imagine a better organization to take this journey with. We represent an industry that is constantly innovating and making a real impact on the world. It’s energizing, and I’m proud to be part of it in this role.”
Leading Foundational Transformation
From revamping CTA’s membership to spearheading the addition of the digital health sector to CES®, Fabrizio has continued to make her mark on the association by seeing what’s next for the tech industry and creating opportunities for growing sectors to connect.
When she started at CTA in 2008, the association’s membership was hardware focused. The evolution of CTA’s membership framework allowed companies that were using the internet to create opportunities and technologies for consumers to find their place within the association.
“We made a deliberate decision not to remain narrowly focused on traditional categories like audio and video. Instead, we expanded into mobility, health, startups, gaming, AI, robotics and beyond. That evolution created a more dynamic community where companies across many industries can collaborate, solve problems and grow together,” Fabrizio said. “CES reflects that same approach. It’s a platform where companies can launch innovations, connect with media and demonstrate how they are addressing real-world challenges. I’m especially proud of our team for continuously pushing us forward and ensuring we stay relevant in a rapidly changing industry.”
In the same tune of membership evolution, Fabrizio has helped bridge gaps between members and their offerings.
“Early on, during the rollout of 4K TVs, we saw a clear gap. Manufacturers were ready, but the content ecosystem hadn’t fully caught up. At the same time, streaming platforms like Netflix were just beginning to reshape how content was delivered,” Fabrizio said. “I recognized an opportunity for CTA to bring these groups together, so we created a content and entertainment council. It became a platform for hardware, technology and content leaders to collaborate and accelerate adoption of new formats.”
She has also built up segments within CTA, including digital health.
“Building our digital health portfolio was another defining experience,” Fabrizio said. “The emergence of wearables and consumer-driven health data was incredibly exciting. We worked to create a community that could support and grow that sector, and it has continued to expand in meaningful ways.”
Focusing on Collaborative Leadership
Describing her leadership style as collaborative, Fabrizio will continue to champion cross-team projects and celebrate team members’ successes.
“I have a deep appreciation for the work our team does. They are committed year-round, and their dedication drives everything we accomplish. I also place a strong emphasis on problem-solving and persistence. When we encounter challenges, we keep moving forward,” Fabrizio said. “I lead with optimism. I wake up happy and show up each day focused and positive, even when things are hard. That mindset helps set the tone for our teams.”
She also shared that CTA leaders will take external-facing positions when it comes to representing CTA globally.
“We have exceptional leaders across our organization, and you will continue to see a range of voices representing CTA externally, including Gary. We stay closely connected to our members to ensure that when we speak, we reflect the realities and priorities of the tech industry,” Fabrizio shared.
Standing Tall on Strong Principles
Now the Executive Chair, Gary Shapiro has been instrumental in putting principles in place at the organization that the team believes in and will continue to stand behind.
One such principle is auditing CES each year to build trust, and that will continue to happen under Fabrizio’s leadership. Another is that while CTA is an advocacy organization and lobbies, it does not ask the federal government for money that directly benefits the tech industry.
“Working alongside Gary has been an amazing experience. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned from him is the ability to stay steady and principled, especially in moments of uncertainty. He doesn’t flinch, and that kind of clarity and conviction is essential in leadership,” Fabrizio said. “He has consistently stood up for what is right for the technology industry, even when it’s not the popular position. That has shaped CTA’s identity.”
In the Executive Chair position, Shapiro will continue to be an advisor to the organization, and CTA will continue to benefit from his institutional knowledge, relationships and credibility.
“I’m grateful that Gary will continue as Executive Chair. His institutional knowledge, relationships and credibility are invaluable. He has built a strong, globally respected, and financially sound organization,” Fabrizio said. “My focus is to build on that foundation and continue driving growth as both the technology and live events industries evolve.”
What’s Next on the Horizon for CES
The foundation of CES, and trade shows overall, is to bring an industry together. CES aims to be the convening point for innovators to showcase the most amazing technology trends, and it draws in a global audience each year, with 53,000 attendees coming from outside the U.S., and an impressive 55% of attendees being senior-level executives in 2026. That kind of participation is essential to further growth at the show.
“At the same time, the value of in-person connection is only increasing. People want to meet face to face, build relationships and establish trust. That is something technology cannot replace,” Fabrizio said. “We are fortunate that CES serves that role for the tech industry. The level of senior leadership participation, including 55% senior-level executives at CES 2026, reinforces the importance of that in-person engagement, and it will remain central to our strategy moving forward.”
While getting stronger and more influential every year is a challenge for the already supersized show, innovation and enhancements at CES are driven by the team leaning in on partnerships and research to see what’s around the corner for the tech industry.
Reflected by the show’s introduction of the CES Foundry at the 2026 edition, the team is laser-focused on creating meaningful experiences and spaces at the show.
“It’s also about perspective,” Fabrizio shared. “We look at CES through the eyes of both exhibitors and attendees. For attendees in particular, the scale of CES can be overwhelming, so we are focused on creating more tailored experiences. That means building ‘show within a show’ environments that allow different communities to connect more deeply and get the most value from their time at CES.”
Tech Verticals to Watch
In the last few years, CES has kept up with the AI boom, and will continue to be a platform for the transformation the technology will drive. Alongside AI, Fabrizio shared a few other segments to watch for growth including energy technology categories, robotics, next-gen computing and quantum, and longevity technology.
“Our role at CES is to provide a platform for all of these areas — ensuring companies can showcase their innovations, connect with others and contribute to meaningful conversations,” Fabrizio said. “We also remain focused on supporting startups, particularly through Eureka Park, and maintaining CES as the place where the full innovation ecosystem comes together.”
Featured Photo Credit: CTA
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