Verizon Selects New Consumer Group CEO to Lead 5G Expansion

Verizon has announced that it will soon have a brand new CEO for its business unit in charge of its consumer wireless and wireline service.

Effective, January 1, 2022, the US telecom company has promoted its current Consumer Group COO and Deputy CEO Manon Brouillette to run the division. The group’s current CEO, Ronan Dunne, will transition to become a Strategic Advisor.

Brouillette is a relativly new addition to Verizon’s leadership as she initially joined Verizon over the summer in July 2021. Prior to that, she more than 14 years at Canadian telecom company Vidéotron, including almost six years as President and CEO. Outside of her telecoms career, Brouillette also serves on the board of directors for BFA Industries, the National Bank of Canada, and Sonder.

In an statement on the transition, Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg highlighted Brouillette’s experience scaling major brands with sustainable growth as the company increasingly invests in ways to expand its burgeoning 5G network and awaits the approval of its acquisition of Tracfone.

Currently, Verizon is looking to leverage its investments in C-band spectrum to help improve the limited reach of its high-speed millimeter wave (mmWave) 5G deployments and catch up to rivals like T-Mobile, which has relied heavily on mid-band spectrum for its 5G network rollout.

While Verizon’s bet on mmWave spectrum for its 5G network enables faster network speeds, it also offers smaller coverage areas than low- or mid-band spectrum, which exchange the blazing fast upload and download speeds for better network coverage and penetration.

Verizon’s mmWave reliance has led to fast, but patchy 5G coverage in parts of 82 downtown areas. To improve its 5G footprint Verizon has spent over $45 billion to acquire rights to use a portion of C-band spectrum, a block of spectrum that falls within the mid-band range.

Harnessing this C-band spectrum to grow its wireless footprint will be one of Brouillette’s largest challenges at Verizon looks to recover ground on its rival 5G mobile carriers and expand its own 5G home internet offering.

“In the two plus decades that I have spent as a leader in this industry, there has never been a more transformative time. While we have long dreamed of the power and promise of a 5G-connected world, that vision is fast becoming our reality,” Brouillette stated. “I am grateful for the opportunity to lead Verizon’s consumer business and capitalize on this next stage of growth as we reimagine the possibilities for supporting and serving our customers.”