Distinguished technology and data privacy experts bring decades of experience to the board of directors at EqualAI, an AI governance nonprofit
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 17, 2025 – EqualAI, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting AI self-governance and AI literacy, announced the results of their board of director elections, welcoming three new directors, and one returning director to the board: Mano Mannoochahr, Chief Data, Analytics & AI Officer at Verizon, Christina Montgomery, Chief Privacy & Trust Officer and Assistant General Counsel at General Motors, Ashley Russo, Wealth Management Advisor at Northwestern Mutual, and Reggie Townsend, Vice President of Data Ethics at SAS. With extensive experience in AI development, AI policy, and broader stakeholder engagement, these leaders will provide critical guidance on EqualAI’s continued leadership and impact, advancing the mission of implementing AI governance frameworks that foster innovation and enable broader AI adoption among companies, policymakers, and individuals.
“Mano, Christina, Ashley, and Reggie are impact-driven individuals who bring a wealth of technical, policy and regulatory expertise,” said Miriam Vogel, President and CEO of EqualAI. “Their combined wisdom will be invaluable as we continue to expand our AI literacy initiatives and governance frameworks. We are honored to have their experience and insights leading our board.”
Mano, Christina, Ashley, and Reggie will join current board directors Yoel Roth of Match Group, JoAnn Stonier of Mastercard, Karyn Temple of Motion Picture Association, and Miram Vogel of EqualAI. Together with EqualAI’s esteemed senior advisors, the board of directors advises on EqualAI’s expanding work, including its recently launched AI literacy initiative, featuring events across the U.S., the special AI literacy podcast series on “In AI We Trust?” and educational resources designed to empower individuals and organizations with the knowledge to develop and engage with AI.
About Mano Mannoochahr: As the Chief Data, Analytics & AI Officer at Verizon, Mano Mannoochahr has the privilege of leading a world-class team of engineers, data, analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI) professionals who are at the forefront of one of the most ambitious and transformational journeys in data and AI. Their mission is to unlock the full potential of data, accelerate AI adoption at scale, and drive game-changing transformation to power Verizon’s future as the best applied AI company in the world.
With over 25 years of experience in technology spanning multiple industries, Mano is passionate about harnessing cutting-edge advancements in AI and cloud computing to create meaningful business impact. His career has been defined by bridging the gap between bold vision and real-world execution—connecting business priorities with enterprise-scale capabilities that drive growth, operational excellence, and create a differentiated customer experience.
About Ashley Russo: Ashley Russo is a Financial Advisor and public speaker at the top of her field, ranking in the top 1% of advisors currently working in the US according to Northwestern Mutual and has received the honor of #1 advisor in the country, Forbes Best in State and Top 100 Women to Watch. She is a frequent speaker on financial literacy featured on CNBC, CBS, Fox, Yahoo finance, Woman’s Day and many more. She has worked with start-ups and Fortune 500 companies on her workshops and education sessions, including Apple, Airbnb, DocuSign, Lyft, Samsung, Amazon, ServiceNow and Salesforce. Ashley’s passion for helping others with financial literacy grew out of her own life experience. She built an all-female firm that exists to help people get in control of their money, always working to eliminate the shame and judgement that surrounds these conversations.
About Christina Montgomery: Christina Montgomery is a leader in AI governance and privacy, having previously advised the President and the White House on AI as a former member of the National AI Advisory Committee (NAIAC). Christina services on the IAPP Board of Directors and was an inaugural member of their AI Governance Advisory Board. As the Chief Privacy & Trust Officer and Assistant General Counsel of General Motors (GM), Christina leads GM’s privacy and AI governance program. She provides legal counsel and guidance on a wide range of privacy, AI and data protection matters, including data governance, product issues, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance, helping to develop innovative approaches to complex privacy and data issues. Previously at IBM, Christina operationalized IBM’s AI Ethics Board, and led critical business and legal initiatives across the company.
The election of these new board members strengthens EqualAI’s position as a leading voice as the organization advances its mission through convening multi-stakeholder engagement and providing educational resources and governance frameworks that promote AI literacy and adoption.
For more information about EqualAI’s initiatives or to explore their AI literacy resources, visit EqualAI.org or contact them at [email protected].
About EqualAI
EqualAI is a nonprofit organization that helps companies, policymakers, and leading institutions define and implement AI governance frameworks that foster innovation and enable broader AI adoption.
###