Windstream Adds Former EarthLink Execs to New Channel Leadership

**Editor’s Note: Click here to see which channel people were on the move in September.**

Windstream has appointed two key channel sales leaders, including Michael Brennan as its new head of national and strategic programs, and Ron Beer as vice president of channel sales for its South division.

Windstream’s Michael Brennan

Both Brennan and Beer previously were with EarthLink, and joined Windstream after the two companies completed their $1.1 billion merger in late February. Brennan’s position is newly created and he will work with Olen Scott, Windstream’s vice president of channel sales.

“I’m very excited about this new role,” Brennan said. “We have an opportunity to collaborate for mutually beneficial outcomes, which will be the focus of my team. We will empower national relationships through engagement, education, and enablement while emphasizing Windstream’s key areas of differentiation.”

Brennan has held key leadership roles in inside channel sales, account management, and most recently within the national partner program. He was instrumental in EarthLink’s successful channel transformation, specifically in its master agency program.

Windstream’s Ron Beer

Beer has more than 15 years in channel and partner sales in the network-services industry, including positions as vice president of partner sales at EarthLink and vice president of channel sales at PaeTec. He was with Nitel prior to joining Windstream.

“We are pleased to welcome experienced and talented channel sales executives like Ron and Michael to Windstream,” said Layne Levine, president of Windstream’s cloud and connectivity business unit. “We are committed to the success of our channel partners, and I’m excited to have them contribute their experience and expertise to continue Windstream’s own program evolution.”

This summer, Windstream unveiled an enhanced SD-WAN service it said includes the best of its technology and that of EarthLink.