Jeff Joseph to succeed Ken Wasch as head of Software & Information Industry Association; Wasch founded group in 1984

Joseph, left, and Wasch

The Software & Information Industry Association has tapped a former communications leader at the Consumer Technology Association as the successor to CEO Ken Wasch, who founded SIIA more than three decades ago.

Jeff Joseph will take the reins of the $21M-revenue SIIA on Jan. 3, the organization announced in a Dec. 13 statement. The incoming CEO previously was senior vice president, communications and strategic relationships for CTA before leaving the organization in January 2018 to found a consulting firm, Starlight Public Affairs.

Joseph will succeed one of the longest-serving association CEOs currently on the job. Wasch founded SIIA as the Software Publishers Association in 1984 with a group of 25 software firms. The group merged with the Information Industry Association in 1999, taking its current moniker. The group now represents more than 700 technology companies.

In a statement, Wasch said he would retire at the end of the month.

"Jeff Joseph brings SIIA a wealth of invaluable experience in association management and strategic communications," Wasch said. "Jeff is well-equipped to serve the diverse interests and needs of SIIA, from planning and executing our numerous conferences and awards programs to building the profile of the association's public policy efforts."

Wasch's take-home pay was $492,255, according to the latest tax records.

Joseph said in a statement that "this is an exciting time to take the helm of this dynamic organization."

"Data and information are the key currencies of the 21st century economy," he said. "With its diverse membership, policy expertise and educational events, SIIA is well positioned to lead the next wave of the Information Age."

Joseph worked at Ogilvy Public Relations before first joining CTA in 1998. In 2006, he moved to the Biotechnology Innovation Organization as vice president of communications. Six years later, in 2012, he returned to CTA.
When Joseph's second departure from CTA was announced in 2017, CEO Gary Shapiro praised his tenure.

"Jeff has been a huge contributor to the strong growth in our association, including our size, our membership and the events," Shapiro said in a statement. "We love Jeff: He is upbeat, empathetic, strategic and an ethical lodestar."

Joseph has a bachelor's degree in religion from Princeton University.