MEF Expands ELC | Goes Strong on Service Automation, AI-Ops Initiatives

MEF, a global industry association of network, cloud, security, and technology providers accelerating enterprise digital transformation, has announced the expansion of its Enterprise Leadership Council (ELC) from four founding members to 14 leaders representing a diverse range of industries.

Formed one year ago, the ELC now includes executives from sectors such as entertainment, financial services, banking, retail, technology, healthcare, and consulting.

This expansion highlights MEF’s commitment to providing real value to enterprises exploring Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) opportunities, reinforcing its role as an independent platform where enterprises, service providers, cloud, technology companies, and other key stakeholders, collaborate on initiatives shaping the future of the digital ecosystem.

With expanded enterprise participation, the organization is poised to drive impactful projects that address cloud, network, and security challenges head-on, propelling innovation across industries.

The ELC’s growth also reflects the increasing importance of enterprise perspectives in shaping MEF’s NaaS-related work. By tripling its membership in just one year, the council now offers a broader and more comprehensive view of enterprise needs across various sectors and has begun shaping strategic initiatives in areas such as service automation, cybersecurity services, compliance, and AI-Ops.

The ELC includes:

Francisco Artes, Vice President, Product & Enterprise Security, Roku
Nabil Bitar, Chief Technology Officer & Head of Network Architecture, Bloomberg LP
Maxime Bruynbroeck, Head of Network, Decathlon
Chris Carmody, Chief Technology Officer & Senior Vice President, Information Technology Division, UPMC
Daniel Foo, Head of Grabber Technology Solutions (GTS), Grab
Michael Jenkins, Strategic Negotiator, Google Enterprise Network
Amin Jerraya, Senior Vice President, Head of IT Digital Engagement and Infrastructure, Siemens Healthineers
Mark Looker, Managing Director and Head of Voice & Data Network Service, Morgan Stanley
Raleigh Mann, Senior Vice President of Technology, Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
Amo Mann, Chief Architect for Cloud and Network, Accenture
Chema San José, Head of Data & AI Architecture – CTO Global, Santander Digital Services
Neal Secher, Vice President, Head of Network Services, TD Bank
Jonathan Sheldrake, Vice President of IT – Infrastructure & Services, Burberry
Alejandro Tozer, Independent

“The expansion of the Enterprise Leadership Council marks a pivotal moment in MEF’s evolution,” said Sunil Khandekar, Chief Enterprise Development Officer, MEF. “By amplifying the enterprise voice, we’re not only responding to current industry needs, but anticipating future ones. The ELC’s diverse expertise is already shaping MEF’s NaaS initiatives, which will drive real solutions for today’s challenges and lay the foundation for tomorrow’s innovations. This level of collaboration sets a new standard for how industry associations can lead meaningful progress.”

A first initiative for the ELC is MEF’s recently launched Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO) Circuit Impairment & Maintenance (CIM) Service API, designed to enable service providers to automate and standardize how network circuit impairments and scheduled maintenance are communicated to enterprises. The CIM Service API will be showcased during a live demonstration at MEF’s Global NaaS Event (GNE) this week in Dallas, highlighting how enterprises can collaborate with service providers to proactively identify and address impairments and streamline network maintenance.

As ELC-led initiatives continue to advance, MEF is attracting more enterprises eager to collaborate with technology, cloud, and service providers on MEF’s independent platform. Together, they contribute to and benefit from solutions that address critical needs in cloud, network, and cybersecurity infrastructure, accelerating digital transformation across sectors.