Boulder, Colorado, United States, July 2026 — Zayo has announced the appointment of Sowmyanarayan Sampath as its next Chief Executive Officer, effective September 1, 2026. He joins the company at a pivotal time as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and enterprise digital transformation continue to accelerate demand for next-generation connectivity infrastructure. As CEO, Sampath will lead Zayo’s strategy to expand its digital infrastructure platform and help customers power AI-driven connectivity, enterprise innovation, and global network growth.
Sampath brings more than 25 years of global leadership experience spanning telecommunications, enterprise technology, consulting, and digital transformation. Prior to joining Zayo, he spent nearly 12 years at Verizon, where he most recently served as Chief Executive Officer – Verizon Consumer, leading one of the world’s largest consumer telecommunications businesses. Earlier, he held several senior executive positions including Chief Executive Officer – Verizon Business, Chief Revenue Officer – Verizon Business, President – Global Enterprise, Chief Financial Officer & Group Strategy and Transformation – Media, Chief Product Officer, and Senior Vice President – Business Transformation, playing a central role in driving business growth, customer experience, product innovation, and enterprise transformation across Verizon’s global operations.
Before Verizon, Sampath spent nearly nine years with The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) as Partner and Managing Director, where he served as a Global Sector Leader advising leading telecommunications, technology, and media companies on growth strategy, digital transformation, operational excellence, and large-scale business change. Earlier in his career, he held consulting roles with ADVENTIS Corporation and KPMG, building expertise in corporate finance, strategic advisory, and business transformation.
Beyond his executive leadership career, Sampath serves on several prestigious boards and advisory organizations. He is a Director at Canadian Tire Corporation, a Member of the Board of Trustees at The Paley Center for Media, a Board Member at TechUnited, and a member of the National Education Outreach Working Group at the Smithsonian Institution, reflecting his commitment to innovation, education, governance, and community leadership.
With deep expertise across telecommunications, enterprise technology, digital infrastructure, strategy, and business transformation, Sampath has consistently led organizations through periods of rapid innovation and growth. His appointment reinforces Zayo’s commitment to building the world’s leading digital infrastructure platform to support enterprises, hyperscalers, carriers, and communities in an increasingly AI-powered economy.
About Zayo
Zayo is a leading provider of digital infrastructure, operating one of the largest independent fiber networks in North America. For more than 18 years, the company has enabled enterprises, hyperscalers, carriers, government organizations, and communities to build the connectivity infrastructure that powers cloud computing, artificial intelligence, financial markets, healthcare, media, and global communications.
With approximately 32 million fiber miles and 224,000 route miles of fiber infrastructure across North America, Zayo delivers secure, resilient, and scalable networking solutions that help organizations design, deploy, and operate next-generation digital networks. Through its engineering expertise and customer-centric approach, the company continues to enable innovation and connectivity in the rapidly evolving digital economy.
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