Dr. Tafreshi is CIO at the Authority Brands where he leads technology strategy and delivery for the organization across the company’s seven brands. He has applied his executive leadership experience in IT and product engineering functions across multiple industries. He comes from a strong, scientific computational background, and has industry expertise in data analytics, IT security, IT management and implementation. He has a proven track record of creating impactful business outcomes, driven from his technical knowledge and expertise in next-generation technology solutions, which he has consistently monetized and exploited to drive innovation, business growth, and competitive advantage.

Prior to joining Authority Brands, Dr. Tafreshi was a CIO partner at a management consulting firm, helping companies develop and manage their technology strategy and transformation initiatives, including an engagement as SVP of Information Technology and CIO for the Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) Airport. Earlier in his career, he was Managing Director of Product Engineering at a $90B financial transaction processing company, where he led the development and implementation of the largest global data warehouse of travel transactions and leading data analytical products.

Dr. Tafreshi received his PhD and Master’s in Nuclear Engineering and a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland at College Park. He also earned a Bachelor’s in Mathematics from Bowie State University. He conducted his post-doctoral research fellowship at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Dr. Tafreshi also obtained an MIT Sloan Executive Certification in Strategy and Innovation. He is also a named inventor of four different patent applications.