Windstream 2015 Annual Report Download - page 25

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Skills and Qualifications Specifically Applicable to Windstream
Mr. Stoltz’s qualifications for election to the Board include his approximately 40 years of experience serving
in an auditor capacity in the telecommunications, media and entertainment industries, with a focus on large global
companies. His broad experience as the former audit partner for publicly-traded communications companies
uniquely qualifies Mr. Stoltz to advise Windstream not only on general financial and accounting matters, but also
various technical accounting and corporate governance matters that the Board may address from time to time. He
possesses key insight on financial reporting processes and external reporting issues. The Board has determined
that Mr. Stoltz qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined by the rules of the SEC. Mr. Stoltz’s
lengthy involvement with telecommunications companies provide him with valuable expertise regarding issues
facing Windstream and the complex regulatory environment in which the company operates.
TONY THOMAS Age: 44 Director Since: 2014
Occupation: President & CEO Qualification Highlights:
Board Committees
• None
Other Current Public Board Memberships
• None
üLeadership – Current President & CEO; Former
CFO
üBusiness Operations; Strategy; Financial
Expertise and Reporting; Capital Markets
üExtensive Knowledge of the Telecommunications
Industry
üInstitutional Knowledge
Biography
Tony Thomas was appointed President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and to the Board of Directors on
December 11, 2014. He previously held the following positions at Windstream prior to his appointment as President &
CEO: President-REIT Operations (September to December 2014); Chief Financial Officer (August 2009 to September
2014); Treasurer (May 2012 to August 2013); and Controller (July 2006 to August 2009). Mr. Thomas also served
as Controller of Alltel Holding Corp. from June 2006 to July 2006, the predecessor entity to Windstream Holdings,
Inc., and held various other leadership positions with Alltel Corporation, a former publicly-traded wireless company,
from 1998 to 2006, including Vice President of Investor Relations and Vice President of Southeast Regional Finance.
Mr. Thomas joined Alltel after its merger with 360 Communications in 1998. Prior to entering the communications
industry, Mr. Thomas was a senior auditor with Ernst & Young LLP focusing on the telecom practice.
Skills and Qualifications Specifically Applicable to Windstream
The Board believes it is important for Windstream’s CEO to serve on the Board, as the position of CEO
puts Mr. Thomas in a unique position to understand the challenges and issues facing Windstream. Mr. Thomas’s
qualifications for election to the Board include the same demonstrated skills and experience that qualify him to serve
as CEO. Mr. Thomas has worked in the communications industry for more than 20 years and has played an integral
role in Windstream’s growth, as during his five-year tenure as CFO, the Company completed seven acquisitions
totaling more than $5.6 billion in transaction value. As CEO, Windstream completed a transformative transaction
by spinning off certain real estate assets into a publicly-traded real estate investment trust, Communications Sales
& Leasing, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSAL). Additionally, Windstream completed the sale of its data center operations and
entered into a key reciprocal strategic partnership with the buyer to provide data center and network services to each
other’s customers. Mr. Thomas has deep capital market expertise, having led almost $10 billion in debt transactions,
as CFO and Treasurer of Windstream. Mr. Thomas’s knowledge of the Company and his experience as a company
leader since its spin-off from Alltel Corporation in 2006 provide him with a wide-ranging perspective regarding
Windstream’s opportunities and overall strategy and qualify him to serve as both CEO and as a director on the Board.