Vincent Franceschini

Company Represented While Actively Involved with the SNIA:

• Hitachi Data Systems EMEA, Senior Product Manager, Storage Networks
• Hitachi Data Systems Corp., Technology Office, Director of Storage Networking Technologies

Current Company:

Hitachi Data Systems Corp., Technology Office, Senior Director of Future Technologies

Years with the SNIA:

Non-stop since 1999

Committees, Forums, Initiatives, Board Seats Held at the SNIA:

• Chairman of the SNIA Board of Directors (and Executive Committee Chair)
• Vice-Chairman of the SNIA Board of Directors (and Executive Committee Member)
• Treasurer of the SNIA Board of Directors (and Executive Committee Member)
• Board Director since 2001 (with a year-off in 2005/6 due to term limits)
• SNW Governing Board Member
• Founder and Chair of the International Committee
• Founder and Chair of the Strategic Alliances Committee
• SMI Governing Board Member
• Active member in several TWG and Forums

Fondest Memories of the SNIA:

It’s tough to choose from so many great moments… here’s a selection related to this recognition:

• The successful opening of the first Interop-Lab in Europe at SNW-EuroStorage 2001in Seville was a delightful moment. After numerous power outages (17), recurring equipment transportation problems, and an ever-rising lab temperature, the lab team I led was ready to open the doors of the technology demo areas literally just on time. I still have in mind a vivid image of the Spanish electrician working for the conference hotel with his thumbs up to tell me that the power leads had stopped warming up... A hot conference!
• The launch of the International Committee to coordinate the development of SNIA Internationally as a continuation of the work initiated by Larry Krantz with the SNIA-Europe Forum was an important moment. During this Board meeting, Directors took a hard look as to why SNIA ought to have a global presence to serve our industry. SNIA was growing up!
• The Board delegation that went to the People’s Republic of China in 2006. I recall the meeting with representatives of one of the Chinese Ministries that was held in an official private business meeting room, with the 2 party leaders at the top of the room (and a translator behind them) and the other representatives on each side of the room, face to face. This sense of formality and protocol during the visit made it feel that SNIA was being recognized for its role in the industry.

Proudest Moments while Active with the SNIA:

Again, it's so hard to choose. There were tons of great opportunities, occasions, and events in the past years. It's a mixture of personal feelings and important achievements for the SNIA.

• Being elected and re-elected as SNIA Chair
• Being elected for the 1st time as Board Director
• Receiving the 2003 SNIA Visionary Award
• Participating in the official launches of Regional Affiliates and Regional Forums. Each time it was like raising the SNIA flag to expand its mission worldwide as well as empowering our international industry colleagues to do the same on our behalf
• The adoption of the Bluefin specification and the launch of SMI
• The renewal of our SNW agreement with Computerworld, allowing SNIA further flexibility to organize its outreach programs
• The rise of data and information management activities in SNIA
• The launch of SNIA software activities
• SNIA's 10th Anniversary celebration and transformation
• Meeting with IT professionals and hearing how important the work and role of SNIA are for them

SNIA's Greatest Achievements:

Besides what SNIA has concretely released since its inception to support and further develop the storage industry (standard specifications, white papers, best practices, tutorials, certification programs…), which have greatly contributed to legitimatizing networked storage in the Enterprise, SNIA’s inherent and subtle achievement has been and will remain the organization of a great, global network of diverse talents and expertise as an industry community. SNIA works like a virtual enterprise and is focused on expansion of the storage marketplace. In addition, SNIA has gradually become trusted by various groups of IT professionals to develop unique industry programs that add value to the IT industry at-large in areas such as technology, marketing, and education.