Gary Shapiro is exiting as CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, the owner and producer of the annual CES confab in Las Vegas, after more than 35 years at the helm.
Shapiro, 69, will step down as CEO of the CTA May 1, 2026, at which time president Kinsey Fabrizio will take over the chief executive role. Shapiro will continue to serve as the trade group’s executive chair, a position he has held since Jan. 1.
As executive chair, Shapiro leads the executive board. He will continue to serve as a spokesperson for CTA and CES.
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“There is a time for everything, and I’m pleased with the new opportunities for CTA and for my next chapter,” Shapiro said in a statement. “This transition is part of a long-planned succession. It strengthens our long-term vision and ensures stability as we move forward. I’m excited to continue to partner closely with Kinsey to keep driving progress for the tech industry and CES. Our future is bright and I look forward to championing Kinsey, the important work of our entire organization, and pursuing new ventures.”
Over his more than 35-year tenure as head of CTA, Shapiro “expanded the association’s influence and impact alongside the growth of the technology industry,” according to the trade group. He began his affiliation with CTA in 1978 as a law student working for a firm representing a part of the Electronic Industries Association before joining the association in-house in 1981.
Shapiro began leading what is now known as the Consumer Technology Association in 1991. During Gary’s tenure, CTA became an independent association, created the CTA Foundation focused on tech for older people and those with disabilities, and created a $15 million equal-opportunity fund focused on funding underrepresented founders, entrepreneurs and diverse leadership teams.
Shapiro also is credited with growing CES to be the largest annual U.S. trade show and attracting more non-U.S. attendees than any other event in the country, according to the CTA.
“Today marks an important moment for CTA,” Pat Lavelle, industry executive adviser to the CTA executive board. “The Executive Board is proud of the strength and continuity this transition brings, and deeply excited for how it sets CTA up for continued success. With Gary and Kinsey in their new roles, we move forward with confidence, focus, and a shared commitment to our future.”
Fabrizio joined the CTA in 2008 as manager of member programs, eventually being promoted to SVP of CES and membership before her elevation to president in February 2024.
As president, she serves on CTA’s executive board and has driven strategy and growth for the association and CES, overseeing the organization’s core business units and operations. In 2025, she testified before Congress advocating for a federal framework for AI. As senior vice president, she oversaw CES conferences and show operations, led an expansion of CES products, and spearheaded a modernization of CTA’s membership infrastructure and categories. Fabrizio also created CTA’s Health Division, launched a healthcare provider program for doctors at CES 2015. She also supported the Video Division Board’s 4K and 8K TV initiatives, founded the Content and Entertainment Council, and played a key role in recruiting emerging gig-economy and internet companies into CTA’s membership, the association said.
Before joining CTA, Fabrizio worked with SmithBucklin and Northern Virginia Mediation Service. She is a member of the George Mason University Costello College of Business Dean’s Advisory Council and the Washington Economic Club. Fabrizio holds a bachelor’s degree from George Mason University and an MBA from the University of Maryland Global Campus.
“I am thankful to have spent most of my career at CTA, learning the organization and working alongside its most important resource, our people,” Fabrizio said in a statement. “Most importantly, I am grateful for the last 18 years I’ve spent learning from Gary, seeing firsthand how he advocates for our industry, our members, and CES. I’m excited to take on this new role and appreciate that he will continue to mentor me.”
Shapiro is a bestselling author of books including “Ninja Future: Secrets to Success in the New World of Innovation” (HarperCollins, 2019), “Ninja Innovation: The Ten Killer Strategies of the World’s Most Successful Businesses” (HarperCollins, 2013) and “The Comeback: How Innovation will Restore the American Dream” (Beaufort, 2011). His newest book, “Pivot or Die: How Leaders Thrive When Everything Changes,” was published by HarperCollins in October 2024. He has written over 1,500 commentaries on innovation, competition, and technology.
