EdgeCast Networks Co-Founders Alex Kazerani and James Segil Win 28th Annual EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2014 Greater Los Angeles Award

NEW YORK, June 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Ernst & Young has announced that EdgeCast Networks co-founders Alex Kazerani and James Segil received the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2014 Greater Los Angeles award in the technology category.

The award, which was announced at a special gala event at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on June 17, recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Kazerani and Segil were selected by an independent panel of judges and received the award for being visionary leaders within the technology industry.

Kazerani and Segil – who have years of experience building companies in the infrastructure, Web services and application delivery spaces -- co-founded EdgeCast Networks in 2006. They had a vision of building a next-generation content delivery network to provide the fastest, smartest, content delivery for the rapidly changing demands of consumers who demand instant access and flawless Web experiences whether shopping online, watching their favorite TV show or simply surfing. According to the judges, Kazerani and Segil did exactly that: EdgeCast consistently ranks among the best-performing CDNs in the industry, with $100 million in revenues and more than 325 employees.

In late December 2013, Verizon acquired EdgeCast Networks, in the industry's largest private CDN acquisition. Retaining the entire management team, EdgeCast Networks has quickly become a key part of Verizon Digital Media Services' ability to deliver content and site acceleration services to customers that include studios, broadcasters, retailers and enterprises seeking quality high-performance digital experiences across all devices.

"It's such an honor to be recognized as top entrepreneurs by one of the most prestigious business award programs in the country," said Kazerani, who is now chief technology officer for Verizon Digital Media Services.

Added Segil, who is now chief marketing officer for Verizon Digital Media Services: "We have assembled a truly incredible team at EdgeCast Networks, and now Verizon Digital Media Services, and this award recognizes both organizations' efforts. We continue to innovate and deliver superior quality Web experiences for enterprise customers and consumers."

As Greater Los Angeles award winners, Kazerani and Segil are now eligible for consideration for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year national program. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2014 National award winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on Nov. 15. The awards are the culminating event of the Ernst and Young Strategic Growth Forum®, the nation's most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies.

To view an interview with Kazerani and Segil that aired at the award gala event, visit Ernst & Young Award Recipients at http://www.ey.com/US/en/About-us/Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneur-Of-The-Year/LA_Article_Overview_Page_Main.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 103 million retail connections nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries. A Dow 30 company with more than $120 billion in 2013 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of 176,900. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts and other information are available at Verizon's online News Center at newscenter.verizon.com. The news releases are available through an RSS feed. To subscribe, visit newscenter.verizon.com/corporate/feeds.

SOURCE Verizon