Vonage Names Ex-Cingular Wireless Exec New CEO

As expected, Vonage has announced a new CEO. Marc Lefar, a former Cingular Wireless executive, will take over from Interim/Until-Next-Time CEO Jeffery Citron.

Lefar served as Chief Marketing Officer at Cingular Wireless/AT&T Mobility for more than four years; Vonage notes that AT&T Mobility's customer base more than tripled and subscriber churn declined by near 50 percent during his tenure.  After leaving Cingular (and likely waiting out a non-compete clause on a contract), Lefar founded a technology and media consultancy. Before Cingular, Lefar was an Executive VP at Cable & Wireless and held senior leadership positions at Verizon Wireless and GTE Wireless.

Citron will stick around as non-executive Chairman of the Board and serve as a "consultant on long-term strategy."

Conspiracy theorists might note that voice service providers in trouble seem to be reaching for executives from the wireless world and AT&T. Sprint CEO Dan Hesse served as president of AT&T Wireless Services from 1997-2000.  Maybe Lefar has a TV commercial in store at Vonage.

For more:
- Vonage new CEO announcement

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