John Donovan is senior executive vice president of AT&T Technology and Operations (ATO), responsible for AT&T’s global network and its best-in-class mobile broadband network along with creating a modern, software-defined and cloud-based technology ecosystem to support them.

He is driving AT&T’s global leadership position in the technological transition to separate hardware and software and virtualize network elements to the cloud. Under his leadership, AT&T has turbo-charged its innovation programs and now is recognized as an industry leader in working with developers to make AT&T’s network open to collaboration and innovation.

John graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a B.S. and earned an M.B.A. in finance from the University of Minnesota. He serves on the Palo Alto Networks board and has authored two books, The Value Enterprise and Value Creating Growth.

He and his wife, Judy, have three children – Shaina, Rory and Julia. A third-generation Irish American, John says, “St. Patrick’s Day was one of the most important celebrations in my home. My dad was so proud of his heritage.”