GET Group NA hires former IDEMIA mobile ID expert to guide digital driver’s license efforts

Jun 5, 2019 | Chris Burt

GET Group North America has appointed citizen-managed mobile ID expert David Kelts as the company’s Director of Product Development, Mobile Identity, to lead its efforts to ensure GET mID’s optimal compliance with the new ISO standard for mobile driver’s licenses (mDLs).

Kelts is a key contributor to ISO mDL specification 18013-5, according to the announcement, and holds five identity and computer-related patents as a certified privacy technologist. The new ISO standard supports user-controlled processes for device to device, or offline, communication, as well as online connection to the drivers’ license issuing authority. The GET Group NA recently demonstrated both modes along with virtual ID partner Scytáles AB.

“David has proven time and time again that he is adept at developing strong vision and product strategy based on his deep understanding of mobile identity technology and the overall marketplace,” comments GET Group North America President and Managing Director Alex Kambanis. “We are excited to have him as part of our team, and his expertise as a technical leader and contributor to the ISO will be invaluable as we look to advance the adoption of secure, 18013-5-compliant mobile IDs.”

While with IDEMIA, Kelts was responsible for launching the first mobile phone driver’s license. He spent 15 years as the company’s director and architect of mobile identity and proofing solutions, and was Principal Investigator on a pair of National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC) grants.

“GET Group North America is a nimble, dynamic identity technology company and its objective to offer customers the best and most secure solutions is well aligned with my own goals,” says David Kelts. “I am pleased to join a team that shares my commitment to working in conjunction with the ISO to support the 18013-5 standard, which will make customers’ mDL interactions more efficient and accurate, and help mDLs be accepted everywhere.”

Several U.S. states are known to be working towards implementing digital driver’s licenses.