Unmasking Telecom's Unlikely Heroes

Posted: 11/1999

Unmasking Telecom’s Unlikely Heroes


The 30 Most Influential People in Competitive Long Distance

With no flowing capes or masked faces, these executives named in the following pages might be mistaken for ordinary guys. And for the most part, they are. But we’ve singled them out for this the third annual compilation of the most influential people in the competitive long distance industry. Those that have made the list did so for different reasons. We would not suggest that any are truly heroic merely on the basis of their influence on the current state of the industry or even for the leadership of their individual companies. (After all, it is their job, and one each is well compensated for it.) However, we would suggest that each has been given or cultivated a rare genius that makes them stand out as if wearing colored leotards and matching knee-high boots. There are those who have Superman-like invincibility–take our No. 1 pick, for example. And there are those who are reluctant defenders of telecom’s little guys against anti-competitive evil (Nos. 13, 16, 17 and 18). But, frankly, most of these mystery men can just shovel really well.

So put on your hard hats and thick skins and read on. If your hero didn’t make the cut, don’t fret. Tell ’em to buy something–another company, a publicist or, better yet, a gadget-filled utility belt.