QWERX, Inc., a software company that delivers secure, quantum-proof enterprise machine identity management, welcomes Mark Pecen as Chief Strategy Officer. Pecen is a pioneer in wireless technology and the inventor of more than 100 fundamental patents in wireless communication, networking and computing. He brings over 35 years of thought leadership in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry with a focus on research, standardization, intellectual property, and commercialization of advanced technologies.
“Mark is exactly the over-the-horizon thinker we need to achieve our vision of a secure planet,” said Greg Cullison, Co-Founder and CEO of QWERX. “Mark’s extensive technology background and sharp business acumen will help QWERX both advance our core product stack and create future cutting-edge tools. His coalition-building experience will be instrumental as we grow a partnership ecosystem of innovative organizations and bring our secure network authentication technology to market.”
Pecen is a retired senior executive at BlackBerry, Ltd., where he founded the Advanced Technology Research Centre. Previously with Motorola, he was awarded the title of Distinguished Innovator and Science Advisory Board member for his role in developing technology and standards for wireless communication.
Pecen has served on over 20 advisory and governance boards for public and private companies, including the University of Waterloo (Canada) Institute for Quantum Computing, and Wilfred Laurier University Institute for Business and Economics (Canada). He is an investor and advisor to several technology companies and venture funds, and general partner of a Canadian deep-tech fund. He advises the Canadian government and European Union on ICT research and technology standardization.
Pecen served five years as chairman and founding member of the European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI) Technical Committee Cyber working group for Quantum Safe Cryptography (Cyber QSC) in Sophia Antipolis, France, and remains active in the ETSI community in radio frequency and quantum technologies.
Pecen is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
