Gabriel Ponce de Leon

Technology operations and infrastructure leader with 8+ years of experience across global sporting events, airports, and enterprise environments. Led venue technology delivery for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Guadalajara, coordinating a 10+ person multidisciplinary team and international technology partners across networking, WiFi, Private 5G, fiber, broadcast connectivity, end-user technology, and operational support. Previously spent nearly 7 years at ITISA, progressing from technical support to Senior Pre-Sales Engineer / Solutions Architect and designing multimillion-dollar enterprise solutions across 12 GAP airports.

Combines hands-on technical depth with vendor management, stakeholder leadership, incident management, operational readiness, and complex project delivery.

Venue Technology Manager at FIFA (2025-09 – Present)

Led end-to-end venue technology operations across planning, deployment, testing, tournament delivery, and decommissioning for the Guadalajara FIFA World Cup 2026 venue.

• Directed a multidisciplinary team of 10+ engineers, technicians, contractors, and specialized vendors while coordinating international partners including Verizon, Lenovo, Safari, HBS, Riedel, Bestel, and Vivaro.
• Oversaw mission-critical services spanning enterprise networking, WiFi, Private 5G, fiber optic backbone, broadcast connectivity, IPTV, CATV, and end-user technology supporting Competition, Broadcast, Media, Hospitality, Security, Ticketing, Accreditation, and Workforce operations.
• Served as the primary technology liaison among FIFA, stadium management, telecommunications providers, broadcasters, and international vendors, driving readiness, technical validation, issue resolution, and match-day execution.
• Successfully delivered technology operations for all 4 FIFA World Cup 2026 matches hosted in Guadalajara and led post-event technology asset recovery and venue decommissioning.

Senior Pre-Sales Engineer | Solutions Architect at ITISA - Ingeniería en Telecomunicaciones e Informática (2022-08 – 2025-08)

• Led architecture and solution design for enterprise networking, cybersecurity, CCTV, access control, IoT, data center, structured cabling, fiber, and telecommunications projects.
• Developed multimillion-dollar technical proposals and solution architectures for enterprise customers including GAP, Hershey's, Mundo Cuervo, and Grupo Collins.
• Designed enterprise technology solutions across 12 GAP airports, including LoRaWAN infrastructure and integrated networking, physical security, and communications requirements.
• Built scalable multi-vendor solutions using Cisco, Fortinet, Aruba, Extreme Networks, Motorola Solutions, and Avigilon technologies.
• Led customer discovery sessions, technical workshops, solution presentations, bills of materials, and proposal development, translating business and operational requirements into implementable technical designs.

Technical Support Engineer at ITISA - Ingeniería en Telecomunicaciones e Informática (2018-09 – 2022-08)

• Delivered enterprise networking, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and end-user support across customer environments, including on-site deployments, troubleshooting, and preventive maintenance.
• Supported Fortinet, Cisco, VMware, Microsoft 365, enterprise wireless, structured cabling, and related infrastructure, building the technical foundation that led to promotion into pre-sales and solution architecture.

Technical Support Engineer at Mi Gente de Sistemas (2018-02 – 2018-08)

• Provided technical support, network troubleshooting, structured cabling, wireless deployments, and preventive maintenance.

Cybersecurity and Network Engineering – ITESO (2017 – 2022)

Academic Exchange – Universitat Politècnica de València (2021 – 2022)