Verizon Names Jim Gerace to Lead Company's Public Policy Initiatives in New York and Connecticut

NEW YORK, April 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon announced on Monday (April 5) that Jim Gerace, who currently heads corporate communications for Verizon Wireless, has been named president of Verizon's New York region.

He succeeds Andres Irlando, who was named to lead customer service operations for the Verizon Wireless West area.

As president of the New York region, Gerace will be responsible for Verizon's corporate interests -- including public policy, government and external affairs, regulatory matters and philanthropy -- in New York and Connecticut.

"Jim is a high-energy leader," said Colleen McCloskey, Verizon senior vice president - state public affairs, policy and communications.  "His long-standing experience in the intensely competitive wireless market ensures that he comes to the task with a sense of urgency and a talent for quickly responding to business challenges."

Gerace began his wireless communications career with NYNEX Mobile Communications in 1986 as a manager in employee communications.  He went on to serve in a variety of communications positions and was named director-public relations in 1991.

In 1995, he directed the announcement of the merger between Bell Atlantic Mobile and NYNEX Mobile, then the largest merger in the wireless industry, and was named vice president- public relations and a member of the senior staff of the new business.  In 2000, he directed the communications for the merger of Bell Atlantic Mobile and AirTouch, which launched the Verizon Wireless brand.

Gerace is a board member of Inroads of the New York/New Jersey Region, a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing and placing talented minority youth in business to prepare them for corporate and community leadership.  An advocate for domestic violence prevention, he also serves on the board of Jersey Battered Women's Service Inc., a private, nonprofit agency that provides valuable life-saving services to victims of domestic violence.  

Additionally, he is on the board of The Wireless Foundation, a nonprofit organization that oversees programs designed to put wireless technology to work addressing the challenges of society.

Born and raised in Stony Point in Rockland County, N.Y., Gerace received a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from the State University of New York at Buffalo.  

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 mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 91 million customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of approximately 222,900 and last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $107 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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SOURCE Verizon