John Hoffman becomes Chairman of GSMA Ltd; Sianne Ryder appointed CEO of Events and Industrial Services; Bob Puglielli Named Director of Event Operations
May 5, 2026, London: GSMA today announces a series of leadership appointments at GSMA Ltd, effective 1street July 2026, as part of the organization's ongoing talent and succession planning.
After two decades at GSMA, John Hoffman will assume the newly created role of Chairman of GSMA Ltd. Over the past 20 years, John has been a defining force in shaping the mobile industry, guiding the growth of GSMA's events and service portfolio to achieve significant global scale and stakeholder impact. In his new role, John will focus on building strategic relationships with host city partners in Barcelona, Shanghai and Doha.
Sianne Ryder has been appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Events and Industrial Services and will join the GSMA leadership team. Sianne joined the GSMA in 2005 and has led business units spanning the Events and Services portfolio across three continents. His achievements include the development of MWC Shanghai and the growth of Industry Services. She is widely recognized for her ability to manage complex global programs and align diverse stakeholders around shared objectives.
To reflect Bob Puglielli's current responsibilities, his role will be renamed Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Events and he will continue to lead the operational delivery of events across the MWC and M360 portfolio. Under Bob's leadership, the GSMA events portfolio has grown into new cities and attracted new verticals, industry leaders, partners and technology innovators to these influential platforms.
Vivek Badrinath, CEO of GSMA, said: “These appointments reflect the exceptional talent we have within GSMA. I want to extend my sincere congratulations to Sianne and Bob as they take on these important new roles; I have no doubt that they will continue to build on the solid foundation we have. I also want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank John. Twenty years of leadership is a remarkable achievement, and John's vision, energy and commitment have shaped not only the GSMA and our events, but also the mobile industry as a whole. We are fortunate that he will continue to bring his experience and relationships to his new role as President..”
John Hoffman commented: “It has been a privilege to lead the creation of a lasting legacy. Together, we have built something truly special: a portfolio of events and services that connect the world and help shape the future of our industry. None of this would have been possible without the extraordinary teams I have had the honor of working with, and I am deeply grateful to each of them. I look forward to continuing to support the organization in my new role and have every confidence that Sianne and Bob will lead us to even greater things in the years to come..”
Sianne Ryder added: “It is a privilege to take on this role at such an exciting time for the organisation. Having been a part of the GSMA for over 20 years, I know first-hand the dedication and talent that drives this organization forward. I am excited to continue the work to grow our industry events and services, and to ensure we are well positioned to take advantage of the opportunities ahead. I also want to thank John for his extraordinary leadership – his vision has set a high bar and I will strive to match it..”
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About the GSMA
The GSMA is a global organization that unifies the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop and deliver critical innovation for positive business environments and social change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so that people, industry and society thrive. Representing mobile operators and organizations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA offers its members three broad pillars: connectivity for good, industry services and solutions, and outreach. This activity includes advancing policy, addressing today's biggest societal challenges, supporting the technology and interoperability that make mobile devices work, and providing the world's largest platform to convene the mobile ecosystem at the MWC and M360 series of events. We invite you to learn more at gsma.com
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