AGMA Leadership

Sally Nguyen, President, Director

Sally Nguyen’s career has spanned more than three decades, business, legal, and technical functions, as well as multiple geographies with Microsoft:  Those roles have included being part of Microsoft’s legal team for 8 years and leading OEM Licensing and Programs Development, EMEA OEM Contracts, Revenue Management, and Systems, and the OEM Program Management Office.  In terms of the AGMA focus areas on IP Protection, Sally joined the fight in 2009 and has since held several key roles leading efforts to improve trust and security for customers and partners through supply chain security, anticounterfeit technologies, digital program security, and IP theft investigation, remediation, and controls. Currently, Sally leads Fraud Response Operations in the Central Fraud & Abuse Risk group in the Microsoft Security organization. She and her team are focused on using data driven approaches to improve the security of Microsoft platforms, protecting customers and Microsoft from various threats including Account Takeover, IP theft, and Service Abuse. 

Sally has served on the board of AGMA since 2010, including several terms as President. She is a staunch believer in the power of best practice and idea sharing to protect against threats to IP that create dangers for companies, customers, and communities.

Ryan Smaglik, Secretary, Executive Contact

Ryan Smaglik is global Director, Revenue & Brand Protection at Rockwell Automation.  In this role, Ryan leads a global team to monitor and mitigate risks associated with gray market and counterfeiting.  Ryan’s team supports Rockwell Automation’s businesses, functions, partners, and customers.   Ryan works closely with Rockwell Automation’s Office of General Counsel on topics relevant to the company’s Partner Network, including partner due diligence, regulatory compliance, and abuse of intellectual property rights. Ryan has 14 years of global experience at Rockwell Automation. He grew up in the United States and has been living and working for Rockwell Automation in the USA, Singapore, and most recently the UK.

Ryan holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from the Milwaukee School of Engineering in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  He is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), an Accredited Counter-Fraud Specialist (ASFS), a Project Management Professional (PMP), and a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.

Douglas Abbott, Treasurer

Douglas Abbott is a key contributor to Cisco's Brand Protection department, specializing in investigations, operations, data intelligence, and partner compliance.

Leveraging his expertise, Doug has been instrumental in developing innovative tools and strategies, including reactive fraud targeting models and advanced "hunting" tools. He also led the creation of predictive modeling systems that use analytics to proactively identify potentially fraudulent deals before they transpire.

Doug's role is built on years of experience as a brand protection investigator, during which he honed his skills in fraud discovery through data analytics, managing international investigations, interviewing witnesses and suspects, and testifying in federal court. He works closely with Cisco's legal and business teams to design effective deterrent strategies. His efforts have resulted in substantial monetary settlements through civil actions and critical case support for federal law enforcement referrals.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in General Management from California State University, Fullerton, and an MBA from San Jose State University. His impactful work continues to safeguard Cisco's brand integrity and ensure compliance across global operations.

Charles Williams, Director

Charles is a seasoned executive with deep expertise in IT business, sales, compliance management, and safeguarding corporate brands. As the Director of Cisco’s Brand Protection Organization for the Americas, he leads efforts to protect one of the world’s most trusted and innovative brands against counterfeiting, piracy, and fraud. 

 In his current role, Charles oversees a global team of attorneys, investigators, engineers, and support personnel, driving cross-functional strategies that safeguard Cisco’s reputation, partners, and customers. His team also plays a critical role in ensuring partner integrity by addressing issues that could impact trust in Cisco’s partner ecosystem. His visionary approach to leadership has been instrumental in ensuring Cisco remains a global leader in maintaining brand trust while upholding the highest ethical standards. 

Charles’s career has been defined by a commitment to collaboration, innovation, and delivering meaningful results. His ability to align brand protection initiatives with long-term business goals has strengthened trust among stakeholders and reinforced Cisco’s reputation as an industry leader. A globally connected leader, Charles continues to champion forward-thinking strategies that prioritize corporate responsibility and stakeholder value. 

Kasia Maciola, Director

Kasia joined the AGMA Board of Directors in January 2013 and has been Schneider Electric’s representative in AGMA since 2012.

Kasia is the Head of Channel Compliance Programs for APC brand at Schneider Electric. Her main responsibility is to prevent, detect, investigate and combat product diversion, unauthorized parallel imports and discount fraud. She oversees internal and external investigative services; intelligence gathering and works closely with law enforcement and external agencies. She monitors, on a global basis, channel activity and channel related controls to efficiently and effectively mitigate risks and strengthen channel integrity.

Kasia is a Certified Internal Auditor and holds a master’s degree in law and a master’s degree in European Studies, both issued by Adam Mickiewicz University in Poland.

Claire Wolf, Director

Claire Wolf serves as Senior IP Counsel at Marvell, a global semiconductor company focused on delivering best in class artificial intelligence solutions. She protects Marvell’s brand by overseeing its global corporate trademark and anti-counterfeiting strategy. She joined the AGMA Board of Directors in 2025.

Mrs. Wolf graduated from Tufts University with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, and she obtained her legal degree at the University of Maryland. She is Registered In-House Counsel for Marvell in the State of California.  She is registered to practice law in the State of New York, and she is a registered patent practitioner before the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Minsi Su, Director

Minsi Su has been working at Google for 11 years and serves as a Trademarks & Anti-Counterfeit Legal Specialist.

Catherine Trione, Director, Advocacy Committee Chair

Catherine Trione is the Manager for Global Fraud Investigation in HP’s Global Brand Security Group.

She leads a global team of Brand Protection professionals solving Warranty Fraud, Grey Marketing, Sales, and Discount Fraud matters in all geographies. Since joining HP over 35 years ago, Catherine has held many Program Management and People Management roles, at the regional or global level, leading transformation programs in Engineering, Marketing, Service Category, and Compliance Audit, before focusing on Brand Protection for the last 12 years.

Catherine joined the AGMA Board of Directors in 2015, where she has continuously contributed to the best practices resources for Grey Marketing and Service & Warranty Abuse. She is also a member of the AGMA’s event committee and leads special risk-sizing projects.

She holds a Master of Science degree in Electronics and a Master of Business Administration degree. She has also been certified as a PMP (Project Management Professional) from the Project Management Institute since 2010. Catherine lives in Grenoble, France, and enjoys golf, running, skiing, and reading.

Marek Piergies, Director, Communications Committee Chair

Marek is the Risk Prevention & Mitigation Manager for HPE’s Business Security and Integrity Group (BSIG).  He is responsible for service fraud, grey marketing, and counterfeit prevention across HPE’s extensive product portfolio and service offerings. Originally from Chicago, Illinois and currently based in Germany, Marek has worked for HPE since 2007, and his background includes brand protection, security, audit, accounting, and distribution experience across a variety of leading companies and industries.  Marek holds a bachelor's degree in accountancy from the University of Illinois and is a Certified Fraud Examiner. In addition to his role at HPE, Marek has been a Director on the Board of Directors for AGMA Global, has successfully owned and operated his own security consulting firm, and is currently AGMA’s Communications Committee Chair.

Jean-Paul Durand, Director, Membership Committee Chair

JP Durand is Corporate Vice President and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer at TD Synnex Corporation.

Mr. Durand's primary responsibilities at TD Synnex include ensuring that TD Synnex's shared values and Global Code of Conduct are communicated, understood, and effectively implemented throughout the company, including efforts to prevent and detect misconduct, as well as the promotion of an organizational culture that encourages ethical conduct and a commitment to compliance with the law.  Mr. Durand also serves on TD Synnex’s Enterprise Risk Committee.

Mr. Durand is a member of the Florida Bar and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology and a Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of Florida, as well as a Juris Doctorate degree with honors from the Stetson University College of Law. He is a past President and Director Emeritus of the Association of Corporate Counsel (“ACC”) Tampa Bay Chapter and is a member of the ACC’s International Committee. Mr. Durand is also a Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional ("CCEP") under the Compliance Certification Board standards.

Marie Elizabeth Myers, President Emeritus

Marie Myers was instrumental in the formation of AGMA, the first technology industry association to address gray marketing of which HP is a founding member.

A global executive with over 12 years of experience in international business, Myers is Hewlett Packard’s Vice President of Internal Audit, Finance and is responsible for the global internal audit department, managing key relationships with internal and external auditors.

Myers served as Director of Internal Audit and in a prior role, was the Director of Finance, Worldwide Sales and Services, where she led Compaq’s initiative to address global gray market issues. Myers was responsible for worldwide audits of distribution channels and developing global business practices and strategies to prevent the diversion of Compaq branded products.  Prior to joining Compaq, Myers held several management positions in Australia for the Department of Trade and Industry and Treasury.

Myers has a Master of Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, TX and graduated from the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia with a Bachelors of Economics and a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Ram Manchi, President Emeritus

Ram Manchi was elected AGMA's President in July of 2007.  As President, Manchi was responsible for driving AGMA's goal to mitigate the gray marketing and counterfeiting of technology products around the globe.

Manchi led the organization in increasing awareness and visibility of the issues surrounding gray market and counterfeit.  Manchi facilitated AGMA's growth and helped foster the exchange of best practices and successes between members, solution vendors and the community.  He also helped to further develop and build partnerships with government entities and spearhead development of industry whitepapers and reports driven by AGMA members.

Manchi was elected to the AGMA Board in 2004 and previously served as its Vice President. Manchi has been an active member of AGMA and a strong advocate of the AGMA mission over the past years.

Until recently, Manchi was Director, Global Business Controls, Customer Advocacy Finance at Cisco Systems, leading Cisco's customer advocacy business controls organization.  His areas of focus included containment of unauthorized service usage, compliance initiatives and introducing and ensuring best practices in Cisco service access and usage. Manchi has extensive knowledge on the topics of service abuse, gray markets, export compliance and the impact of unauthorized product on business and their customers.  Manchi has over twenty years of diversified global corporate experience.

Manchi's work experience includes several business areas including business development, supply-chain management and marketing.  Prior to Cisco, Manchi worked several years at AT&T and Lucent. Manchi also served on the Board and is Treasurer of One World Children's Fund, a non-profit organization to serve underprivileged and orphans worldwide.

Cynthia Abbott, Executive Director

Cynthia serves as the Executive Director for AGMA Global and manages the day-to-day global operations for the organization. With more than 30 years of experience, she worked with Fortune 500 leaders from IQVIA, Cisco, Toshiba, and GE, mid-market, VC and Private Equity backed technology companies and non-profit organizations to formulate and execute strategic initiatives to drive growth, strengthen stakeholder experience, and maximize profitability. Her deep knowledge of strategy, operations and marketing gives her the unique ability to help organizations imagine the possible and bring it to reality.  

Cynthia served as a board member for ISSA and the Triangle Organizational Development Network and most recently served as program chair for the NC Executive Roundtable. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Retail Business Management from the University of Bridgeport, her Master of Administrative Science degree from Johns Hopkins University and completed the Executive Management Program at the University of Southern California. She holds certifications in positive psychology, wellbeing counseling, coaching, and leadership.