As expected, Vonage has announced a new CEO. Marc Lefar, a former Cingular Wireless executive, will take over from Interim/Until-Next-Time CEO Jeffery Citron.
Lefar served as Chief Marketing Officer at Cingular Wireless/AT&T Mobility for more than four years; Vonage notes that AT&T Mobility's customer base more than tripled and subscriber churn declined by near 50 percent during his tenure. After leaving Cingular (and likely waiting out a non-compete clause on a contract), Lefar founded a technology and media consultancy. Before Cingular, Lefar was an Executive VP at Cable & Wireless and held senior leadership positions at Verizon Wireless and GTE Wireless.
Citron will stick around as non-executive Chairman of the Board and serve as a "consultant on long-term strategy."
Conspiracy theorists might note that voice service providers in trouble seem to be reaching for executives from the wireless world and AT&T. Sprint CEO Dan Hesse served as president of AT&T Wireless Services from 1997-2000. Maybe Lefar has a TV commercial in store at Vonage.
For more:
- Vonage new CEO [1] announcement
Related articles
Vonage Near on Refinancing [2], New CEO
Vonage goes cash positive--churn and debt still problems [3]
Links:
[1] http://www.fiercewireless.com/press-releases/marc-lefar-named-ceo-vonage-0
[2] http://www.fierceenterprisecommunications.com/story/vonage-near-refinancing-new-ceo/2008-07-25
[3] http://www.fierceenterprisecommunications.com/story/vonage-goes-cash-positive-churn-and-debt-still-problems/2008-02-13