International Trademark Association Elects David Lossignol of Novartis Pharma AG as 2019 President

New York, New York, January 14, 2019—The International Trademark Association (INTA) announced the election of David Lossignol as the 2019 President of the Association and the Chair of its Board of Directors. Mr. Lossignol, Head of Trademarks, Domain Names and Copyrights for Novartis Pharma AG in Basel, Switzerland, assumes this volunteer role after serving on INTA’s Board of Directors since 2013.

During his one-year term, which began January 1, Mr. Lossignol plans to advance the protection of intellectual property (IP) around the world through various advocacy and educational efforts. Issues of prime importance include the proliferation of counterfeiting, growing anti-IP sentiment, brand restrictions, and the future of IP rights under Brexit.

Mr. Lossignol will also help guide the Association through the second year of its 2018–2021 Strategic Plan, which promotes the value of trademarks and brands, reinforces consumer trust, and embraces innovation and change.

“I am honored to have this opportunity to lead INTA at a time when brand owners are facing both enormous challenges and exciting changes,” Mr. Lossignol said. “I plan to tackle some of these issues through a business-oriented angle and positive approach, including emphasizing how brands can better society.”

INTA CEO Etienne Sanz de Acedo noted that the Association is anticipating a productive year ahead and looks forward to the “knowledge, passion, and vision” that Mr. Lossignol will bring to his leadership role. 

“As an active member of INTA and an experienced IP professional, he fully recognizes the best interests of our global membership and the priorities the Association needs to address in the global economy,” Mr. Sanz de Acedo said.

Mr. Lossignol joined INTA in 2003 and has served on a wide range of committees during this time, including 12 years on the Legislation and Regulations Committee. Currently, he is on the Brands and Innovation Committee.

Before assuming his current role at Novartis Pharma AG, Mr. Lossignol was Global Head of Trademarks at Sandoz International GmbH, leading a team of experienced trademark professionals handling all trademark, domain name, and copyright matters for Sandoz Group worldwide. Prior to that, he was Senior Trademark Attorney at Novartis Pharma AG.

Mr. Lossignol obtained law degrees at Nice Sophia-Antipolis University in France, where he has also lectured on IP law, and diplomas from Oxford Brookes University in the United Kingdom and the CEIPI in Strasbourg, France.

Also elected as officers for 2019 are:

• President-Elect: Ayala Deutsch, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, NBA Properties, Inc. (New York, New York)
• Vice President: Tiki Dare, Assistant General Counsel, Oracle Corporation (Redwood City, California)
• Vice President: Zeeger Vink, Intellectual Property Director, Maus Frères (Paris, France)
• Treasurer: Jomarie Fredericks, Deputy General Counsel and Chief Intellectual Property Counsel, Rotary International (Evanston, Illinois)
• Secretary: Dana Northcott, Associate General Counsel-Intellectual Property, Amazon.com, Inc. (Seattle, Washington)
• Counsel: Anna Carboni, Partner, Wiggin LLP (London, UK)
• Past President: Tish Berard, Legal Counsel, North America, Velcro Group Corp. (Boston, Massachusetts)

About the International Trademark Association (INTA)

The International Trademark Association (INTA) is a global association of brand owners and professionals dedicated to supporting trademarks and related intellectual property (IP) to foster consumer trust, economic growth, and innovation. Members include more than 7,200 trademark owners, professionals, and academics from 191 countries, who benefit from the Association’s global trademark resources, policy development, education and training, and international network. Founded in 1878, INTA is headquartered in New York City, with offices in Brussels, Santiago, Shanghai, Singapore, and Washington, D.C., and representatives in Geneva and New Delhi. For more information, please visit www.inta.org.