William E. Kennard

Independent Chairman of the Board at AT&T

Mr. Kennard is Chairman of the Board of Directors of AT&T Inc. and has served in this capacity since January 2021. Mr. Kennard served as the United States Ambassador to the European Union from 2009 to 2013. From 2001 to 2009, Mr. Kennard was Managing Director of The Carlyle Group (a global asset management firm) where he led investments in the telecommunications and media sectors. Mr. Kennard served as Chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission from 1997 to 2001. Before his appointment as FCC Chairman, he served as the FCC’s General Counsel from 1993 until 1997. Mr. Kennard joined the FCC from the law firm of Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson and Hand (now DLA Piper) where he was a partner and member of the firm’s board of directors. Mr. Kennard is a co-founder of Astra Capital Management (a private equity firm) and has served on the board of trustees of Yale University since 2014. Mr. Kennard received his B.A. in communications from Stanford University and earned his law degree from Yale Law School.

Timeline

  • Independent Chairman of the Board

    Current role