A major marketing and sales campaign targeted at global accounts is scheduled to begin in 30 days.
Joel Arnold, currently executive vice president of global business markets, is appointed executive vice president-global accounts. He will lead the company’s focus on the largest global 1,000 accounts as defined by communications spending in North America and Western Europe.
Cliff Holtz, currently executive vice president-small business markets, is named executive vice president- national business accounts. He will lead the focus on U. S. -based business accounts, excluding the global 1,000 accounts. Arnold and Holtz will continue to report to Qwest Chairman and CEO Joseph P. Nacchio. The new organizations will collectively add 1,000 new sales people as announced Sept. 10.
This reorganization is a natural extension of our strategy to aggressively address and capitalize on changing market conditions, Nacchio said. Today’s economic climate, where customers are seeking increased reliability, diversity and cyber security, affords us a great opportunity. We now will have two senior executives instead of one to better cover the local, regional, national and international markets. Our priorities are to increase sales effectiveness, focus more on strategic services, and win market share.
Another action to strengthen market coverage of global and national accounts is a new multi-year agreement for managed wavelength services with Calpoint, LLC. The relationship allows Qwest to increase its portfolio in optical wavelength services quickly and efficiently. Qwest expects the agreements will accelerate by at least two quarters the deployment of high-demand wavelength services.
Calpoint also will help Qwest market and sell these services. The services will be sold to global and national companies as well as large defense and government customers that Calpoint will bring to Qwest. The services are expected to generate a substantial recurring revenue stream over the life of the contract and annual positive earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA).
Qwest previously announced it would report on Oct. 31 its financial results for the third quarter.
SOURCE: COMPANY PRESS RELEASE
