Chris-Tensen Joins American Broadband

By Khali Henderson

Former TelePacific Communications channel chief Justin Chris-Tensen has been named senior vice president of sales and marketing for Pennsylvania-based American Broadband Inc. (ABi) with responsibility for direct and indirect sales channels.

Chris-Tensen is formerly the vice president and general manager of Telepartner sales and marketing at TelePacific, a CLEC operating in California and Nevada. He resigned that post Jan. 8 to take a top channel assignment at Pacnet, an Asia-based telecom service provider, but parted ways with the company after about a month.

Prior to TelePacific, Chris-Tensen was vice president of U.S. operations at Telegate, vice president of marketing and product development at GST Telecom, vice president of network services at ICG Communications and a senior manager at MCI.

“The continuing support Justin has from past assignments … as well as from the investment community is rare, impressive and speaks to his ability as well as to his high level of integrity and results,” said ABi President and CEO Thomas K. Grundman in a press statement. “Justin’s unique ability and reputation to quickly absorb, frame, create and execute on meaningful programs uniquely position him to guide ABi’s sales and marketing initiatives.”

Grundman said Chris-Tensen’s appointment also will allow COO Rich Ellsworth to shift his attentions to operations, services procurement and professional services as well as the integration of engineering, project management and the NOC.

ABi, founded in 2001, delivers broadband access and high-capacity managed network solutions for customers in the financial, retail, health care, education and logistic industries. The company’s services are offered in partnership with wholesale network service providers, such as ILECs, CLECs, cablecos and utility companies. Its managed network offerings include regional multisite SONET WDM carrier networks, optical Ethernet metro networks, high-capacity local wireless access networks and national broadband IP VPN networks.

“At ABi, we can seamlessly link carriers and technologies, which allow us to primarily and uniquely focus on the customer,” said Chris-Tensen in a press statement. “The fact is that some of today’s technologies will become tomorrow’s relics. As they do, we will be ever vigilant with regard to our client needs by ensuring they remain on a path where the latest business-enabling technology is available for them without the difficulties associated with changing providers.”