Windstream 2011 Annual Report Download - page 12

Jeffery R. Gardner, age 52, is President and Chief Executive Officer of Windstream. Mr. Gardner was
appointed to his current position in December 2005, and he has served as a director of Windstream since
its formation in 2006. He previously served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of
Alltel Corp. He joined Alltel in 1998 when it merged with 360° Communications.
Mr. Gardner is a member of the Business Roundtable, an association of chief executive officers of leading
U.S. companies. He also is Chairman of the United States Telecom Association. He serves on the board
of directors of RF Micro Devices, Inc., Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Darlington School, and Loras
College. He serves as chairman of the Arkansas Research Alliance and as chairman of the advisory board
for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Center for Distance Health. He also serves
on the foundation board at UAMS. Mr. Gardner was named a national finalist for the Ernst & Young LLP
Entrepreneur of the Year 2010®Award in telecommunications. Mr. Gardner earned a degree in finance
from Purdue University and an MBA from William and Mary. He is a certified public accountant.
The Board believes it is important that Windstream’s Chief Executive Officer serve on the Board, as the
position of Chief Executive Officer puts Mr. Gardner in a unique position to understand the challenges
and issues facing Windstream. Mr. Gardner’s qualifications for election to the Board include the
demonstrated leadership skills and experience that qualify him to serve as Chief Executive Officer of
Windstream. Mr. Gardner has worked in the telecommunications industry for more than 25 years and is
executing a focused strategy to transform Windstream and create value for shareholders. Windstream has
completed nine acquisitions since its spin-off from Alltel Corp. in 2006, adding more than $4 billion in
revenue and creating approximately $300 million in operating and capital synergies. Windstream
completed four acquisitions in 2010 alone totaling $2.2 billion. In 2011, Windstream acquired PAETEC,
a leading communications provider for $2.3 billion. Mr. Gardner’s service on the boards of another public
company and several non-profit organizations also provides him with a broad perspective on the
challenges and opportunities facing Windstream and the communities it serves.
Jeffrey T. Hinson, age 57, has served as a director of Windstream since its formation in 2006.
Mr. Hinson serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee. Mr. Hinson has served as President of YouPlus
Media, LLC, since June 2009. From July 2007 to July 2009, Mr. Hinson served as the President and Chief
Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of Border Media Partners, LLC. Mr. Hinson
served as a financial consultant from January 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007. Mr. Hinson served as a consultant
to Univision Communications Inc., a Spanish language media company in the United States from July
2005 to December 2005. Mr. Hinson served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of
Univision Communications from March 2004 to June 2005. He served as Senior Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer of Univision Radio, the radio division of Univision Communications, from September
2003 to March 2004. From 1997 to 2003, Mr. Hinson served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation, which was acquired by Univision Communications in
2003 and became the radio division of Univision Communications. Mr. Hinson is a director and
Chairman of the Audit Committee of LiveNation and a director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of
TiVo, Inc.
Mr. Hinson’s qualifications for election to the Board include his extensive financial and accounting
experience. Through his current service on the audit committees of three public companies and his prior
service as a chief financial officer of two public companies, Mr. Hinson has deep experience in
overseeing financial reporting processes, internal accounting and financial controls, independent auditor
engagements, and the other functions of an audit committee of a public company. The Windstream Board
has also determined that Mr. Hinson qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined by the
rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). His service on the boards of other public
companies in diverse industries also allows him to offer a broad perspective on the challenges and
opportunities facing Windstream.
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