Key takeaways
- RAIN Alliance is searching for a new CEO after Aileen Ryan announced she will step down on Nov. 30 following a period of strong membership and market growth.
- Under Ryan’s leadership, the organization expanded RAIN RFID awareness, advanced standards recognition and supported major ecosystem milestones such as RAIN-enabled smartphones.
RAIN Alliance announced on Sept. 30 that Aileen Ryan has tendered her resignation and will leave her role as President and CEO of the organization on Nov. 30.
Ryan joined the RAIN Alliance in October 2022 with a vision to harmonize the RAIN ecosystem, support a new phase of growth and establish the Alliance as the dominant voice in the market. In this time, the RAIN Alliance membership has doubled, RAIN tag IC shipment figures have grown by 50% per annum and the annual event RAIN in Action was launched in 2024, which has been attended by more than 500 delegates this year alone and has become the flagship event for the RAIN ecosystem.
Aileen has led the organization through a period of rapid change and expansion of use cases for RAIN RFID, including the technology being acknowledged as a recognized Digital Product Passport data carrier by the CEN/CENELEC Joint Technical Committee 24, and the first RAIN-enabled smartphones coming to market.
Aileen Ryan Statement Following Resignation
In a statement announcing her departure, Ryan said RAIN technology plays a critical role in enabling a smarter, more sustainable and connected world.
“It has been an honor to collaborate with RAIN Alliance members, regulators, legislative bodies and fellow standards groups to help industries better understand how they can harness RAIN deployments to improve traceability, operational efficiency and sustainability,” said Ryan. “I’m incredibly proud to have established the RAIN Alliance as a trusted source and credible voice – one that is listened to and has a seat at the table where key industry decisions are made.”
RAIN Alliance Begins Search for New CEO, President
The RAIN Alliance Board is focused on ensuring a smooth transition and has begun the process to determine the organization’s future leadership and will provide further updates in due course.
“On behalf of the RAIN Alliance Board, I would like to thank Aileen for her contribution to the Alliance and the industry over the last four years,” said Jos Kunnen, Chair of the RAIN Alliance Board of Directors. “She has played a pivotal role in steering the RAIN ecosystem through its next phase of evolution and amplifying awareness of RAIN as an essential technology. We wish her every success for the future and thank her for her leadership.”
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