Windstream Names New Channel Chief, Curt Allen Moves to Advisory Role

Windstream has reorganized its channel leadership amid Chapter 11 bankruptcy, with Curt Allen stepping down from his role as Windstream Enterprise’s president of strategic channels.

Windstream’s Matt Milliron

Matt Milliron, vice president of channel sales, is being promoted to channel chief and head of strategic channels, while Allen will move into an advisory role following program transition to Milliron.

Allen emerged from retirement in October 2017 to take over as Windstream’s channel chief. His hiring was always planned to be short term, and part of his role during his tenure was to develop a succession plan, according to the company.

Milliron was hired by Windstream Enterprise nearly a year ago as the successor-in-waiting, allowing Allen to transition into his new advisory role, according to the company.

Milliron tells Channel Partners he will lead channel program initiatives, including the recently launched Channel Integration program, designed to foster collaboration with Windstream Enterprise direct sales and provide additional resources to its partner community.

Part of his responsibilities also will include leading the national reseller efforts previously led by Allen, according to Windstream.

Allen‘s advisory role will be a consultant to the program, and he will work with Milliron and Windstream Enterprise leadership to continue to charter partner program growth with both the company’s internal team and partners.

The Chapter 11 restructuring process didn’t prompt this change in channel leadership, Windstream said.

The internal changes will mean “significant benefit” to Windstream Enterprise partners, Milliron said. He led development of the channel integration program.

“This program has benefited partners by stripping down the silos of the organization, providing greater available resources for opportunities, and the ability for the channel and direct sales teams to work together more closely in a time where we see continued success in our SD-WAN and UCaaS solutions,” he said “In addition, Windstream Enterprise has reinvigorated its commitment to the channel by recently opening up new positions across the nation for business development teams to evangelize the success and drive greater presence in the marketplace for our partners.”

These new teams also will be under Milliron’s leadership.

“This realignment is an important step in our transition to create a more tightly integrated and highly effective sales organization,” said Layne Levine, president of Windstream Enterprise and Wholesale. “I want to thank Curt for his leadership and know that Matt will continue to build on the program’s success.”

Back in April, Windstream initiated plans to cut 15% of its partners while increasing commissions for the remaining partners for selling strategic products. Its partner program previously included 31 standard agreements and the bankruptcy court said that was too much. Windstream has now consolidated all of its partners onto a single agreement.