Tom Rutledge
to Serve as Executive Chairman of the Company and its Board of
Directors through 2023
STAMFORD, Conn., Sept. 21,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Charter Communications, Inc.
(NASDAQ: CHTR) ("Charter" or "Charter Communications") today
announced that Chris Winfrey has
been named President and Chief Executive Officer of Charter
Communications, effective December 1,
2022. Mr. Winfrey has most recently served as Charter's
Chief Operating Officer after more than a decade as Charter's Chief
Financial Officer. As CEO, Mr. Winfrey will report to Charter's
Board of Directors.
Tom Rutledge, who announced his
plans to retire as CEO after a storied 50-year career beginning as
a technician in 1972 while in college, will serve as Executive
Chairman of the Company and its Board of Directors through the end
of his contract in November of 2023. Mr. Rutledge will maintain
oversight of Charter's Government Affairs during that time and
provide his guidance and expertise to ensure a smooth and
successful transition.
"It has been an honor and a pleasure to lead Charter and this
incredible team over the past 10 years," said Mr. Rutledge. "We
have grown the company through innovation and strategic investments
and have positioned Charter to provide the best converged
connectivity products and services available today. During my 50
years in this industry, I have witnessed first-hand its ability to
continually evolve and change the world, and our opportunity today
is greater than ever with ubiquitous connectivity being central to
everything we do."
Lead Independent Director of Charter's Board of Directors
Eric Zinterhofer noted, "When Tom
was chosen to lead Charter in 2012, his reputation as a skilled
operator was second to none, but we never anticipated the new
heights to which he would take this company. He redefined and
exceeded every measure of success, establishing Charter as a
best-in-class U.S. connectivity provider. He grew the company both
organically and through transformative acquisitions, which included
Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks and Optimum West
(Bresnan). In addition, Tom has skillfully developed the next
generation of leaders at Charter, including Chris. We are pleased
Tom will continue to serve Charter and its shareholders as
Executive Chairman of the Company and its Board in 2023.
"Over the past several years, the bench strength at Charter has
continued to stand out. In particular, Chris has consistently
demonstrated significant leadership and delivered an impressive
track record of successes. He earned the respect and trust of his
colleagues, the industry, the financial community and this Board.
Chris has our utmost confidence and has been unanimously elected to
succeed Tom as the next President and CEO of Charter," said Mr.
Zinterhofer.
"Chris' leadership and expertise in both operations and finance
have been pivotal to Charter's growth and success," added Mr.
Rutledge. "He has repeatedly demonstrated innate strategic insight
and keen market and industry awareness to drive an organization to
perform at the highest level. Having worked closely with Chris for
more than 10 years, he is the right choice to be our next CEO and
will serve Charter's customers, employees and shareholders with
integrity and skill, leading the company to new and extraordinary
heights."
"I am grateful to Tom and the Board for entrusting me with this
appointment and the incredible opportunity to lead this top-flight
management team and company," said Mr. Winfrey. "I am deeply
committed to Charter's success and will continue our track record
of delivering the best connectivity products and service to our
customers, investing in the careers of our employees, and building
long-term value for shareholders."
Mr. Winfrey has played a significant role in Charter's growth
and transformation over the last decade, first as Chief Financial
Officer and more recently as Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Winfrey
joined Charter as Chief Financial Officer in 2010, added oversight
of Spectrum Enterprise in 2019, and operational leadership of the
residential and SMB Sales and Marketing organization, and Spectrum
Community Solutions in 2021. Later in 2021, he was named Chief
Operating Officer.
Mr. Winfrey is leading the company's rural construction
initiative including its $5 billion
investment associated with the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund
(RDOF) making gigabit broadband connectivity available to more than
a million currently unserved locations. He also will lead the
company's path to a fully converged broadband offering with
symmetrical and multi-gigabit speeds across its entire network. As
CFO, he spearheaded Charter's transformative M&A activity,
played an integral role in the Time Warner Cable and Bright House
Networks integrations, and managed Charter's financial activities
through a period of significant growth.
Prior to joining Charter, Mr. Winfrey served as Chief Financial
Officer, and as Managing Director for cable operations,
broadcasting and satellite entities at Unitymedia GmbH,
Germany's second-largest cable
operator. Earlier in his career, Mr. Winfrey served as Senior Vice
President, Corporate Finance and Development at Cablecom, GmbH. He
was previously a Director of Financial Planning and Analysis and
Director of Operations Services of NTL Incorporated's continental
European operations, and a senior associate in the private equity
group at Communications Equity Associates. He has spent nearly 25
years in the cable industry, and in 2015 received The Internet
& Television Association's (NCTA) Vanguard Award for Young
Leadership.
Tom
Rutledge's Five Decades of Transformative Cable
Leadership
Named President and CEO of Charter in 2012 and Chairman in 2016,
Mr. Rutledge has left his mark not just on Charter, but the entire
cable industry. Under Mr. Rutledge's leadership, Charter's annual
revenue has grown more than 600%, while its customer base has
increased 500% through its successful merger with Time Warner Cable
and acquisitions of Bright House Networks and Optimum West, as well
as through robust organic growth under his tenure. He has overseen
extensive investment in technology and infrastructure, including
the company's ongoing multibillion dollar rural construction
initiative. He led the launch of the Spectrum brand, established an
all-digital cable TV and streaming video platform, launched gigabit
broadband connections and an innovative mobile offering across
Charter's service area of 55 million homes and
businesses.
Mr. Rutledge began his cable career in 1972 at Eastern Telecom
working as a technician while going to college. In 1977, he joined
American Television and Communications (ATC), a predecessor of Time
Warner Cable, as a manager trainee where he served in a series of
progressively senior leadership roles, eventually becoming
President of Time Warner Cable in
2001. Prior to becoming CEO of Charter in 2012, Mr. Rutledge served
as Chief Operating Officer of Cablevision Systems, where he oversaw
the company's cable television business; Rainbow Media - the
company's national programming business - which includes the AMC,
IFC, Sundance TV and WEtv networks; Clearview Cinemas and
Newsday.
Mr. Rutledge is a former Chairman of the NCTA – The Internet
& Television Association and currently serves on the boards of
NCTA, CableLabs, C-SPAN, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural
History and AdvanceCT. In 2011, he received the NCTA Vanguard Award
for Distinguished Leadership, the cable industry's highest honor,
and is a member of the Cable Hall of Fame and the Broadcasting and
Cable Hall of Fame.
ABOUT CHARTER
Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR) is a leading
broadband connectivity company and cable operator serving more than
32 million customers in 41 states through its Spectrum brand. Over
an advanced communications network, the company offers a full range
of state-of-the-art residential and business services including
Spectrum Internet®, TV, Mobile and Voice.
For small and medium-sized companies, Spectrum
Business® delivers the same suite of broadband
products and services coupled with special features and
applications to enhance productivity, while for larger businesses
and government entities, Spectrum Enterprise provides highly
customized, fiber-based solutions. Spectrum
Reach® delivers tailored advertising and production
for the modern media landscape. The company also distributes
award-winning news coverage, sports and high-quality original
programming to its customers through Spectrum Networks and Spectrum
Originals. More information about Charter can be found at
corporate.charter.com.
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SOURCE Charter Communications, Inc.