Draft:Lloyd A. Carney

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Lloyd A. Carney (born February 13, 1962) is a Jamaican-American technology executive, investor, and philanthropist. He is the former CEO of Brocade Communications Systems and previously held senior leadership roles at IBM, Juniper Networks, and Nortel Networks. He currently serves as Chairman and CEO of Carney Global Ventures, Chancellor of the University of Technology, Jamaica, and Ambassador for Technology for the Country of Jamaica. Carney sits on the boards of several publicly traded companies, including Visa Inc., Vertex Pharmaceuticals, and Grid Dynamics, where he is Chairman of the Board.[1][2]

Early Life and Biography

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Carney was born in Kingston, Jamaica, to a Cuban father and Jamaican mother. He attended Wolmer’s Boys' School, one of the oldest high schools in the Caribbean, and later moved to the United States for college.[3] He currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area, and spends time in Montego Bay, Jamaica, where he has a home and working farm.[4] Carney has three children and a grandson.

Education and Honorary Degrees

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Carney earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology from the Wentworth Institute of Technology and a Master of Science in Applied Business Management from Lesley College.[2]

In recognition of his professional accomplishments, he has received honorary doctorates from:

  • Wentworth Institute of Technology – Honorary Doctor of Engineering Technology (2013)[2]
  • University of Technology, Jamaica – Honorary Doctorate in Engineering (2022)[2]

He has served multiple terms on the Wentworth Institute of Technology Board of Trustees and has funded campus resources such as the Lloyd Carney Reading Room and the Tech Sandbox, supporting student innovation and entrepreneurship.[5]

Career

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Carney began his executive career at Wellfleet Communications, a leading provider of internet routers during the early days of networking. After Wellfleet merged with SynOptics to form Bay Networks, the company was acquired by Nortel Networks, where Carney served as President of the Core IP, Wireless Internet, and Enterprise Divisions, based in Paris.[6]

He later served as Chief Operating Officer at Juniper Networks (2002–2003), overseeing engineering, product management, and manufacturing. He then became Chairman and CEO of Micromuse, a network management software company, which was acquired by IBM in 2006. At IBM, he led the Netcool Division as General Manager.[2]

In 2008, Carney became CEO and Director of Xsigo Systems, a leader in data center virtualization, which was acquired by Oracle in 2012. He then served as CEO and Director of Brocade Communications Systems from 2013 to 2017. Under his leadership, Brocade expanded its position in data center and storage networking before being acquired by Broadcom.[7]

Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs)

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Carney has led two SPACs focused on technology acquisitions:

  • Carney Technology Acquisition Corp I (CTAC I) – Raised $200M and merged with Grid Dynamics, which went public on the Nasdaq.[4]
  • Carney Technology Acquisition Corp II (CTAC II) – Chief Acquisition Officer (2020–2023), raised $400M[4]

Board Memberships and Leadership

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Carney has served on the boards of numerous public and private companies and organizations, including:

  • Visa Inc. – Board Member since 2015; Chair of the Audit Committee[2]
  • Vertex Pharmaceuticals – Board Member since 2019; Chair of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee[1]
  • Grid Dynamics – Chairman of the Board of Directors[8]
  • Nuance Communications – Former Director and Chairman of the Board (until its acquisition by Microsoft in 2022)[9]
  • Technicolor S.A. – Former Director and Chair of the Technology Committee[6]
  • Cypress Semiconductor – Former Director; Audit and Compensation Committees[6]
  • UCSF Health – Member, Board of Advisors[10]
  • Wentworth Institute of Technology – Current Trustee[5]
  • Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula – Advisory Board Member (since 2000)[11]

Public Service and Academic Leadership

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In August 2022, Carney was appointed Chancellor of the University of Technology, Jamaica, where he supports institutional growth in science, technology, engineering, and innovation.[12]

In May 2023, the Government of Jamaica appointed Carney as Ambassador for Technology (also known as Special Investment Envoy for Technology). In this role, he works to attract investment and promote technology-focused economic development across the country.[13]

Philanthropy and Investment

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Carney is the founder and president of the Lloyd Carney Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to improving health, education, and quality of life in underserved communities. The foundation has supported projects in Jamaica, Haiti, South Africa, and the United States, including disaster relief, human rights advocacy, and children’s healthcare.[14]

Through his foundation and in partnership with Carney Global Ventures, Carney continues to champion educational access. In February 2024, three students at the University of Technology, Jamaica were awarded full scholarships covering tuition, books, uniforms, and living expenses. The scholarships reflect Carney’s commitment to investing in the next generation of innovators in Jamaica.[15]

Carney is also the founder of Carney Global Ventures, a private angel investment firm. The fund has historically invested in early-stage companies led by individuals with whom Carney has a personal working relationship. Though it is no longer seeking new investments, it remains active in supporting existing ventures.[14]

He contributes actively to Silicon Valley Start-up Common (SVSC), mentoring entrepreneurs and helping early-stage founders gain access to capital and strategic guidance.[7]

Notable Media and Publications

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Carney has attracted attention from several high-profile media outlets and has been honored for his leadership and governance. Notable highlights include:

  • Forbes (August 22, 2012) – Featured in “Lloyd Carney’s Profitable Journey from Jamaica to Palo Alto”, highlighting his transformative career roots and Silicon Valley leadership[7]
  • The New York Times (August 26, 2016) – “Think You’re Irreplaceable? Take the Bucket Test”, part of its “Corner Office” series[3]
  • Business Insider (September 29, 2016) – “The CEO of a $3.7 Billion Tech Company Shares the Important Business Lessons He Learned from His Grandfather”, focusing on Carney’s leadership values and intergenerational wisdom[16]
  • Caribbean American Heritage Awards (2021) – Honored for Outstanding Entrepreneurship[4]
  • Wall Street Journal (2025) – Ranked #73 among the Top 250 Most Influential and Effective Corporate Board Directors in the U.S., recognized for his board leadership at Grid Dynamics, Visa, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals[17]
  1. ^ a b "Lloyd Carney". Vertex. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Visa - Corporate Governance - Board of Directors - Person Details". investor.visa.com. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  3. ^ a b "Lloyd Carney: Think You're Irreplaceable? Take the Bucket Test (Published 2016)". 2016-08-26. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  4. ^ a b c d "Lloyd Carney". Caribbean American Heritage Awards. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  5. ^ a b "Lloyd Carney Returns to Board of Trustees". wit.edu. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  6. ^ a b c Carney, Lloyd. "Lloyd Carney".
  7. ^ a b c Cohan, Peter. "Lloyd Carney's Profitable Journey from Jamaica to Palo Alto". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  8. ^ "Leadership". Grid Dynamics. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  9. ^ "Nuance Names Four New Independent Directors, Appoints Lloyd Carney as Chairman of the Board - September 12, 2018". news.nuance.com. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  10. ^ "UCSF Health Executive Council Welcomes Two New Members | UC San Francisco". www.ucsf.edu. 2020-10-15. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  11. ^ "Leadership & Board". Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  12. ^ "Chancellor's Profile - University of Technology, Jamaica". www.utech.edu.jm. 2024-04-26. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  13. ^ "Holness appoints four new ambassadors/special investment envoys to drive economic growth". jamaica-gleaner.com. 2023-05-11. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  14. ^ a b "CGV | Providing Tools and Opportunities to Empower Lives". Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  15. ^ "Three UTech students awarded full scholarships through Carney Global Ventures Foundation". jamaica-gleaner.com. 2024-02-14. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  16. ^ Smith, Jacquelyn. "The CEO of a $3.7 billion tech company shares the important business lessons he learned from his grandfather". Business Insider. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  17. ^ Francis, Theo. "The Top Corporate Board Directors". WSJ. Retrieved 2025-07-29.