Ameritech gets a new CEO

SBC Communications this week named 37-year Bell company veteran Joe Walkoviak as president and chief executive officer for its Ameritech subsidiary, which serves the midwestern U.S.

Walkoviak, 54, is the fourth executive to head Ameritech since SBC took over the company approximately less than three years ago. Current president Edward Mueller is retiring.

The Illinois Commerce Commission credited Mueller for addressing the customer-service problems Ameritech suffered since its takeover by SBC.

Walkoviak rose through the Bell system from his start as a splicing technician for Southwestern Bell in 1965. He has served president of network services for SBC Southwestern Bell, responsible for all development, installation, repair, maintenance and construction activities associated with the company's telephone network infrastructure.

Walkoviak also served as executive vice president of network, in which he was responsible for network planning and engineering, Internet services, technology deployment, as well as capital allocation and management. He will assume responsibility and authority for all local telephone company operational issues in the five-state SBC Ameritech region, including network, consumer and business sales, and external affairs.