Lowell McAdam

Lowell C. McAdam is chairman and chief executive officer of Verizon Communications, a leading provider of wireless, fiber-optic and global Internet networks and services. He was named CEO on Aug. 1, 2011, and chairman on Jan. 1, 2012.

From October 2010 until he assumed his current position, McAdam served as president and COO, with responsibility for the operations of the company’s wireline and wireless businesses. He was also responsible for internal services and the technology management and CIO functions.

McAdam is one of the architects of today’s global wireless industry, having built wireless businesses on three continents since the technology’s development in the 1980s. He was president and CEO of Verizon Wireless from 2007 until being named COO of Verizon, and before that served as Verizon Wireless’ executive vice president and chief operating officer. Under his leadership as CEO, Verizon took over complete ownership of Verizon Wireless by purchasing Vodafone’s 45 percent stake in the company. The acquisition, completed in February 2014, positions Verizon for a new phase of wireless growth and expanding opportunities and enhances the company’s ability to deliver integrated wireless and wireline products and solutions across all networks and platforms.

Before joining Verizon Wireless in 2000, he was president and CEO of PrimeCo Personal Communications, a joint venture owned by Bell Atlantic and Vodafone AirTouch, where he oversaw the deployment of one of the industry’s first all-digital networks. He also served as vice president-international operations for AirTouch Communications and was lead technical partner for cellular ventures in Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Italy, Korea and Japan. Prior to joining AirTouch in 1993, he held various executive positions with Pacific Bell.

McAdam is past chairman of the board of directors of the CTIA, the wireless industry trade association. He is a director of the National Academy Foundation, a partnership between business leaders and educators that helps high schools across the country establish and run technical and service academies to prepare students for college and careers. He is also co-chair of the CEO Council on Health and Innovation, which encourages the adoption of innovative strategies to improve employee health and the delivery of higher-quality, more cost-effective healthcare. In addition, he is a member of the Cornell University Board of Trustees.

He earned a bachelor's degree in engineering from Cornell and a master's degree in business administration from the University of San Diego. He also spent six years in the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps and became a licensed professional engineer in 1979.