Shailen Bhatt appointed ITS America President & CEO

The Board of directors of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America has chosen Shailen Bhatt as president & chief executive officer. Bhatt joins 560 ITS America with an extensive background in promoting and advocating for intelligent transportation and was most recently executive director of 5701 Colorado Department of Transportation.

Bhatt also focused on deploying transportation technology, creating the RoadX program and making Colorado a national innovation leader. By teaming with the private sector to help shape the future of transportation, he has been selected one of 10 global finalists and moving forward with a first-of-its-kind feasibility study to build 8535 Hyperloop. In addition, he has partnered with OTTO/Uber Trucking to complete the world’s first commercial delivery by a self-driving truck; also deployed the world's first autonomous impact protection vehicle to protect work zones from distracted drivers. Bhatt has partnered with 598 Panasonic to build the world's first commercial grade, licensable, Connected Vehicle Ecosystem and also with HERE to enable vehicle to everything communications.

Bringing a portfolio of management and public policy expertise to 560 ITS America, Bhatt has been cabinet secretary of 7423 Delaware Department of Transportation and associate administrator of the 831 Federal Highway Administration. He has also played a leadership role on the national stage for transportation policy through his board service on the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials, and chair of the National Operations Center of Excellence and Vehicle to Infrastructure Deployment Coalition.

Bhatt succeeds David St. Amant, who served as interim president and CEO since 1 August 2017.

Chris Murray, ITS America board chairman, CEO of 4984 Kapsch TrafficCom North America, said: "Shailen Bhatt is uniquely positioned to drive the mission of ITS America forward as intelligent transportation and connected and autonomous vehicles are poised to dramatically alter the transportation landscape by increasing safety, equity, sustainability and economic opportunity in the states and cities across the nation".