Mr Malcolm Johnson was re-elected ITU Deputy Secretary-General on 1 November 2018 for a second four-year term starting on 1 January 2019.
During his first term as Deputy Secretary-General, he implemented many efficiency measures releasing more resources to key ITU activities and delivered balanced budgets. He led the Management Board for ITU’s new headquarters building from initiation to selection of architect and concept design. He has modernized ITU’s physical security, improved internal coordination and streamlined and digitized many internal processes substantially reducing paper consumption. He facilitated more inclusive participation in ITU’s work through the use of remote participation in meetings.
Prior to serving as Deputy Secretary-General, Mr Johnson served from 2007 to 2014 as Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Standardization Bureau where he initiated the “Bridging the Standardization Gap programme” which has resulted in nearly 50 more countries, mainly developing countries, becoming active in ITU’s standards work; and the “Conformity and Interoperability programme” which helps developing countries prevent low quality and counterfeit ICT equipment from entering their markets. During his time as Director, he introduced a number of gender parity policies, and the percentage of women professionals increased from less than 20 percent to over 40 percent. He also initiated much of ITU’s current work related to environmental issues and accessibility.
Between 2003 and 2006, Mr Johnson was International Coordinator at the United Kingdom’s Office of Communications (Ofcom), where he had lead responsibility for the United Kingdom in ITU.
From 1992 to 2003, he was Director of the United Kingdom’s Radiocommunications Agency and was the European Coordinator for three ITU World Radiocommunication Conferences.
Between 1988 and 1992, he worked in the European Commission’s Telecommunication Regulations Division, where he represented the Commission in the Council and the Parliament of the European Union.
Mr Johnson is a Member of the Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) Board, spearheading the ‘Digital with Purpose’ Movement to create business value through radically accelerating the enabling power of digital technology to meet the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals, whilst minimizing negative externalities that may arise.
Born in Trallwng, Wales, United Kingdom, Malcolm Johnson graduated from the University of Wales, Cardiff, with MSc and BSc (1st class honours) degrees in 1976. He is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, an Honorary Professor of Amity University and an Academician of the International Telecommunication Academy.
