Sophia Muirhead

Sophia "Sophie" Muirhead became the Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of IEEE on January 1, 2023.12 She is the first woman to hold this position at IEEE.23

Background and Career

Muirhead joined IEEE in 2019 as the General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer.13 Prior to IEEE, she spent two decades at The Conference Board (TCB), a global business membership organization, where she served as their first Chief Legal Officer and held various operations roles, including leading TCB's Marketing and Communications Center.45

Education and Achievements

• Earned a J.D. from Harvard Law School15
• Holds a B.A. magna cum laude in Political Science from Hunter College15
• First female, person of color, and member of staff promoted by the IEEE Board of Directors to the Executive Director and COO role5

Role at IEEE

As Executive Director and COO, Muirhead:

• Manages a US$500 million+ business enterprise4
• Oversees a worldwide staff of over 1,000 employees5
• Collaborates with IEEE's leadership, members, and staff to further the organization's mission1

Personal Attributes

Muirhead describes herself as:

• Bold and adventurous
• Proactive and innovative
• Committed to mentoring and advancing women in the workplace
• Dedicated to community outreach and serving the world5

Her appointment as Executive Director and COO has been praised for her proven track record of collaboration with the Board of Directors and her deep understanding of the organization.1