This article is about the technology executive. For the social reformer, see
Mary McDowell.
Mary T. McDowell (born 1964) is an American technology executive.[2][3] From 2019-2021, she was CEO of Mitel,[4][5] a global business communications provider. Prior to that, McDowell was CEO for Polycom from 2016[6] until its sale to Plantronics in 2018.[7] While at Polycom, she led a strategic pivot to open ecosystems[8][9][10][11][12] and bought Obihai to strengthen the company’s phone and cloud products. She is on the boards of Autodesk[13] and Informa plc.[14]
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At Nokia she was in charge of its mobile phone division[15] and oversaw the introduction of Nokia Asha feature phones,[16] Nokia Life Tools,[17] and Nokia Money.[18]
Before Nokia, she worked at Compaq/Hewlett Packard from 1986 to 2003,[19] where she was at one point in charge of its server division.[20] In 2012 she was described as one of ten "disruptive individuals" reshaping the mobile phone industry.[21]
In 2018, she was recognized as one of the top 10 women in telecommunications.[22] She is a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Engineering.[23]
McDowell is married to Kevin Longgino, the CEO of the National Kidney Foundation.[24]
- Distinguished Alumni Award 2011[25]
- World Master of Innovation 2009[26]
- Top 10 Women in Wireless 2008[27]
- Top 20 Women in Technology 2000[28]
Staff writer (October 18, 2004). "5 Women to Watch: We have a hunch they may grace the top 50 list someday". Fortune Magazine. Retrieved July 31, 2016. ...Mary McDowell, 40 -- SVP; General Manager, Enterprise Solutions, Nokia -- After leaving her strategy job at HP late last year, McDowell now oversees Nokia's new products, like wireless phones that double as computers--a centerpiece of the company's growth strategy....
"Plantronics to buy Polycom in 2 billion dollar deal". bizjournals. March 28, 2018. ...With the addition of Polycom's solutions across video, audio and collaboration we will be able to deliver a comprehensive portfolio of communications and collaboration touch points and services to our customers and channel partners," Plantronics CEO Joe Burton said in a statement....
Dave Michels (November 30, 2017). "Mary McDowell Leading an Endpoint Empire". talkingpointz. ...McDowell says, "At Polycom, 40% of our executive team is female. I was fortunate to "grow up" at a time when the industry was more geek and less bro....
"Polycom CEO on Video Conferencing, Microsoft Partnership". Bloomberg. March 17, 2017. ...Polycom's conference room speakers and video monitors have been staples in corporate boardrooms for decades. The company's sales growth hit a rough patch in recent years, but a $2 billion takeover has given it a new lease on life. Polycom CEO Mary McDowell appears on Bloomberg North with Anthony Lacavera to talk about the company's strategic shift.....
Zeus Kerravala (December 7, 2017). "Polycom Continues Marching to Its New Beat". no jitter. ...Polycom raised some eyebrows earlier this year when it announced a partnership with longtime competitor, Zoom. The deal was such a surprise because industry watchers in part link the ease of use and cloud-first approach of Zoom and companies like it to the decline that forced Polycom into retooling as a private company....
Brett Young (December 14, 2003). "Nokia to launch mobile financial service". Reuters. ...The world's top mobile phone maker Nokia said on Wednesday it would launch a mobile financial service next year targeting consumers, mainly in emerging markets, with a phone but no banking account...
Daniel Lyons (April 3, 2000). "Speed Demons". Forbes. Retrieved July 31, 2016. ..."The little fish ultimately will eat the big fish," says Mary McDowell, general manager of Compaq's server division....
Dylan Tweney (March 21, 2012). "10 disruptive individuals who are reshaping the mobile industry". VentureBeat. Retrieved August 9, 2016. ...Sometimes disruption comes in the form of business innovation ... Executive vice president Mary T. McDowell leads Nokia's Mobile Phones business unit, which accounts for about half of Nokia's business....
Vilija Simkiene (November 27, 2018). "Top 10 Women in Telecommunications". voip. ...Mary McDowell is the chief executive officer and member of the board for Polycom, Inc. Prior to joining Polycom, Mary was in charge of Nokia's Mobile Phones unit, where she successfully improved on Nokia's No. 1 position in feature phones. Mary made her way up the corporate ladder at Nokia by changing their bureaucratic system...
Top 10 Women in Wireless, (2008), Mary McDowell, Fierce Wireless. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
Note: from the Association of Women in Computing