Mountain View, CA (October 12, 2011) — Singularity University (SU) has announced the appointment of Rob Nail, a successful Silicon Valley entrepreneur and an associate founder of SU, as Chief Executive Officer. Most recently Rob has been serving as SU’s Director of the Global Solutions Program. He succeeds Neil Jacobstein, who will continue to co-chair SU’s Artificial Intelligence and Robotics education track and take on the role of Director of Executive Academics.“We are thrilled to have Rob as CEO of Singularity University. He embodies the intellectual talent and entrepreneurial spirit that uniquely mirrors our faculty, staff, students and alumni,” said Dr. Peter H. Diamandis co-founder and executive chairman of Singularity University.
“At the same time, we thank and applaud Neil Jacobstein for his leadership during the last year, and are pleased that he will continue to benefit SU through his faculty expertise,” said Ray Kurzweil, co-founder and chancellor.Neil Jacobstein said: “It has been an honor for me to serve SU in the President’s role for the past year, and I look forward to getting back to academics. Rob Nail and I have worked well together on SU’s Global Solutions Program, and I think that he will do a great job as CEO of the University.”
“I am excited to lead a University that is spinning out transformational companies that are using exponential technologies to solve the world’s grand challenges,” said Nail. “Additionally, SU alumni from our executive program include top executives from some of the world’s most impressive companies and a major priority will be to support and continue to build that amazing network.”
Rob Nail is the co-founder and former CEO of Velocity 11, a biotechnology firm that was later acquired by Agilent Technologies in 2007. He has also served as a surfer at The Big Blue, and was the Co-Founder of Alite Designs, where he continues to serve on the Board of Directors. Nail earned a BS in Mechanical and Materials Sciences from University California, Davis, and a MS in Engineering from Stanford University.
Singularity University offers both graduate and executive programs focused uniquely on the impact and incubation of exponentially growing technologies in six key areas: medicine and neuroscience, networks and computing systems, artificial intelligence and robotics, biotechnology/bioinformatics, nanotechnology, and energy and environmental systems. Nail will lead a dedicated staff and world-class core faculty of technical and scientific experts in the management of SU. He also will be responsible for growing the organization by expanding the base of industry partners, sponsors and supporters.
Registration is now open for the December 3-10, 2011 SU Executive Program and February 2012 Future Med Program. To register, please visit www.singularityu.org/ep and follow SU on Twitter at @singularityu.