Matt Flanigan is retiring as president of the Telecommunications Industry Association and will be replaced by Grant Seiffert, the group announced today.

Flanigan led TIA, the trade association of telecom and IT hardware and software makers, for 12 years. Seiffert has been the association’s executive vice president. TIA’s board appointed Seiffert at its summer meeting.

“Matt Flanigan's service to TIA has been marked by unparalleled leadership on behalf of telecommunications equipment and services companies, and he has strengthened TIA during his tenure by positioning the association for a bright future,” said TIA Board of Directors Chairman Van Cullens, president and CEO of Westell Technologies Inc., in a prepared statement. “During his presidency, which spanned more than 12 years, TIA has been a constant resource and stalwart advocate of the needs of hundreds of TIA's information communications and technology companies operating in an industry driven by innovation and change.”

Flanigan presided over TIA through the telecom boom of the ‘90s, the initial Telecom Reform act of 1996, the industry crash of 2001, and the dissolution of TIA’s partnership with USTelecom in sponsoring Supercomm. Under his leadership, the organization launched its own show, Globalcomm, first held last June in Chicago.

Seiffert joined TIA in 1996 as director of government relations and represented its interests as the reform bill was passed. He was promoted to vice president in 1998 and later to executive vice president, overseeing policy, including interaction with legislative and regulatory bodies and managed association membership and TIA tradeshows, including Globalcomm. He was formerly a member of Sen. John McCain’s staff.

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