John Donavan
Founder, Qudit
Former CEO, AT&T Communications;
True power lies in purpose-driven innovation. For more than 30 years, John has harnessed the power of technology to make meaningful connections. Through Qudit, John is focused on long-term investments in innovation and technology-enabled businesses. As a technologist, his interests range from AI and quantum to hypersonic and high-performance computing.
John is the lead independent director of Palo Alto Networks, a director at Lockheed Martin, a member and former chair of the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC), as well as an author.
For more than a decade, John led AT&T Communications in expanding the company’s overall innovation program. He oversaw the company’s global leadership in 5G, led the industry in the transition to software-defined technology, and successfully worked with application developers and others to make AT&T’s network open to collaboration and innovation.
John is the lead independent director of Palo Alto Networks, a director at Lockheed Martin, a member and former chair of the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC), as well as an author.
For more than a decade, John led AT&T Communications in expanding the company’s overall innovation program. He oversaw the company’s global leadership in 5G, led the industry in the transition to software-defined technology, and successfully worked with application developers and others to make AT&T’s network open to collaboration and innovation.
