CenturyLink outlines post-merger regional structure

Though it still needs approval by several more state regulatory agencies for its merger with Qwest Communications, CenturyLink already has announced a new regional management structure to take effect after the deal is completed.

The deal is expected to close in the first half of next year, and at that time, the combined company will organize its 37 state-level operations into a six-region structure that sees each area’s activities led by a regional president. It’s a structure perhaps more reminiscent of a large Bell company for a firm that not so long ago was known as mid-sized independent telco CenturyTel, but which quickly changed its profile by acquiring Embarq and dealing for Qwest.

The new regions, headquarters locations and leadership include:
Eastern Region
President: Todd Schafer, currently president of CenturyLink's Mid-Atlantic Region
Headquarters: Wake Forest, N.C.
States: Georgia, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia
Midwest Region
President: Duane Ring, currently president of CenturyLink's Northeast Region
Headquarters: Minneapolis, Minn.
States: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin
Mountain Region
President: Kenny Wyatt, currently president of CenturyLink's South Central Region
Headquarters: Denver, Colo.
States: Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming
Southern Region
President: Dana Chase, currently president of CenturyLink's Southern Region
Headquarters: Orlando, Fla.
States: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas
Northwest Region
President: Brian Stading, currently vice president of network operations and engineering for Qwest
Headquarters: Seattle, Wash.
States: California, Idaho, Oregon, Washington
Southwest Region
President: Terry Beeler, currently president of CenturyLink's Western Region
Headquarters: Phoenix, Ariz.
States: Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada

Presidents of each region will be responsible for revenue, customer retention, customer satisfaction and service delivery throughout several local markets within those regions. Each local market will be led by a vice president/general manager responsible for financial and operational performance. CenturyLink said the structure puts decision-making closer to the customers, and it reflects the organizational philosophy the company has used as it has grown.

With the exception of Stading leading the Northwest Region, the new regional leadership choices emphasize executives already employed by CenturyLink. The new structure does change the location of some existing CenturyLink regional bases. The Midwest set-up, for example, shifts the regional headquarters from LaCrosse, Wis., to Minneapolis, one of Qwest’s current major markets. The structure also appears to further de-emphasize the former Embarq headquarters office in Kansas City, Mo, though the complete organizational picture may not be finalized for several months, a company spokeswoman told The Kansas City Business Journal.

The regional structure plan was announced the same week as the CenturyLink-Qwest deal obtained another significant state regulatory approval in Arizona. Meanwhile, the Montana Public Service Commission discussed the deal last week in a public hearing, and is inching closer to a ruling. The companies also recently worked out a new agreement with Qwest wholesale customer Cox Communications that resulted in Cox lifting its opposition to the deal. The Federal Communications Commission and a handful of states still need to provide their approval before the merger closes.