André V. Mendes has been named director of engineering and technical services for the International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB). The appointment was made on Dec. 21, 2009.
The IBB provides engineering support for the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), which is responsible for operation of the U.S. government’s Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Radio Free Asia (RFA), the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN), and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB).
Mendes will oversee management of the Agency’s complex network of engineering and technical systems used for distributing programming worldwide via radio, television, Internet and new media distribution channels. He is also responsible for the development and enhancement of delivery strategies for BBG transmitting stations, digital satellite systems, and information technology functions, to meet the fast-changing needs of BBG’s global audience.
Mendes most recently served as senior vice president, strategic planning and global CIO, for Special Olympics International, managing the organization’s global technology infrastructure, the development of the 2011-2015 Special Olympics Strategic Plan and administration of the Christmas Record Trust Fund. He previously served as Chief Technology Integration Officer for the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), where he was responsible for both Information Technology and Broadcast Engineering during the organization’s transition to digital television.
Mendes was a technology and business-development executive for several start-up companies in the health-care and bio-technology arenas, and was also the writer of a TV Technology column on Internet Technology.
Mendes has received numerous industry awards for his work, including one of the 2008 MIT Awards for IT Innovation.
