AT&T named Betsy Bernard president-elect of the company, part of a series of organizational changes announced by chairman and CEO-elect David Dorman. Bernard will become president of AT&T when the company completes the spin-off of AT&T Broadband and its subsequent merger with Comcast.
Bernard, who re-joined AT&T 17 months ago as head of its AT&T Consumer long-distance unit, will be charged with leading AT&T Business, a nearly $27 billion organization serving the needs of more than 4 million business customers. She also will assume responsibility for the company's network services group, international ventures and AT&T Labs.
Dorman said Bernard will immediately head up AT&T Business. She will assume the role of AT&T president when the Comcast agreement closes and Dorman becomes chairman and CEO of AT&T. At that time, AT&T's current chairman, C. Michael Armstrong, will leave to become chairman of AT&T Comcast.
Bernard's appointment was a key part of organizational changes announced by Dorman, who has been president of AT&T since December 2000.
Dorman named John Polumbo, currently senior vice president-AT&T Business, to succeed Bernard as president and CEO of AT&T Consumer. Polumbo, like Bernard, will report directly to Dorman as part of the company's Operations Group that will lead AT&T once the Broadband spin is completed.
Yesterday, AT&T also announced that Connie Weaver, vice president-Investor Relations, was named to the position of executive vice president-Public Relations and Brand Management.
Of Bernard, Dorman said, "Betsy brings terrific experience to her new position, including 23 years in business services and more than 25 years in telecommunications. Most recently, during her time with AT&T Consumer, she led the transformation of that business and continues to deliver the best margins in the industry. I'm looking for great things from her in her new assignment."
Bernard said she was extremely proud of many of Consumer's achievements in a tough market environment over the last 17 months, and had particular praise for Consumer's employees. "They're the best people in the industry," she said. "It's been an honor working with them."
But she also relished the challenges ahead.
"There's never been a better time to be with AT&T Business. Many of our competitors are challenged by lack of scale, debt, accounting irregularities and investigations," she said. "That's leading business customers to seek reliability as well as expert capabilities and value -- a combination uniquely offered by AT&T.
"Dave has put a huge vote of confidence in me as a leader, and I'm humbled by the challenge and grateful for the opportunity," she added.
Polumbo, whose telecom experience includes heading the consumer unit at Pacific Bell, led major innovations in the areas of bundling, diversity marketing and loyalty programs. He expressed enthusiasm for returning to the consumer marketplace as head of AT&T Consumer.
"Under Betsy's leadership, AT&T Consumer executed on its major strategies for success -- maximizing the business for cash, transforming its service-delivery capabilities, and broadening its service lines. I intend to continue that focus," said Polumbo. "Consumers more than ever before are looking for value and innovation. They want to do business with a company they trust. AT&T Consumer will continue delivering value and innovation, and standing for integrity in all that we do."
"Both AT&T Business and AT&T Consumer have an exciting future because of their network, reach, service and leadership," said AT&T Chairman C. Michael Armstrong. "They will share a common balance sheet, extraordinary assets, deep technical resources and the most talented people in the industry."
