Windstream Adds Two To Board As Foster Retires

Windstream Holdings, Inc. announced the appointments of William LaPerch and Michael Stoltz to the company’s board of directors. Longtime director Dennis Foster is retiring from the board effective Feb. 1, 2015.
LaPerch and Stoltz qualify as independent board members under NASDAQ listing requirements. LaPerch will serve on the board’s compensation committee, and Stoltz will serve on the audit committee. The appointments are effective immediately.

As previously announced, Francis X. “Skip” Frantz will leave the board and become chairman of the board of the real estate investment trust (REIT) to be created through Windstream’s spinoff of certain telecommunications network assets. Frantz will leave the Windstream board upon close of the transaction, which is expected to occur in the first quarter of 2015.

“I am delighted to welcome Bill LaPerch and Mike Stoltz to our board. Both are distinguished professionals with deep experience in telecommunications and finance,” said Jeff Gardner, president and chief executive officer of Windstream. “Bill’s extensive telecom and technology background will be very beneficial in shaping our ongoing transformation strategy. Mike has provided sound financial advice and strategy to leading public telecommunications providers and his financial expertise uniquely positions him to join our audit committee.”

“We are immensely grateful for Dennis’ leadership on our board. He also has been a great mentor for me throughout my career, and we wish him the best in his retirement,” Gardner said.

LaPerch, 59, is the former president and CEO of AboveNet Communications, Inc., a provider of bandwidth infrastructure services. Prior to AboveNet, LaPerch served as president of network services and president of enterprise services for Metromedia Fiber Network, a provider of metro fiber services. He also has held positions at MCI WorldCom, Inc.

Stoltz, 63, is a former audit partner with Ernst & Young with nearly 40 years experience serving clients primarily in the telecommunications, media and entertainment industries. Stoltz is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and is a registered CPA in several states.

Foster, 73, has served as a director of Windstream since July 2006, and is a member of the compensation committee. He served as chairman of the board from February 2010 to May 2013, and lead director from July 2006 to February 2010. He also served as a director of Alltel Corp. from 1998 through 2006.