TDS Telecom has named James Butman as its new CEO, taking over the reins from David Wittwer, who is retiring from the company at the end of the year.
Butman, who currently serves as COO, will take over the CEO role next January. As COO, Butman has overall leadership responsibility and accountability for consumer and commercial sales, marketing, customer contact operations, network operations and business development.
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Since joining TDS Telecom in 1985, Butman has held numerous leadership positions throughout the company. Among his many roles was serving as president of US Link Long Distance, the company’s CLECC operation, which is concentrated in four Midwest states. Under Butman's guidance, the CLEC operation grew into a $250 million business.
He was named group president of marketing, sales & customer operations in 2006 and was named COO in 2016.
Besides his responsibilities at TDS, Butman previously served on the board of directors for INCOMPAS, a trade association for competitive providers, where he was treasurer and a member of the executive committee.
A 34-year company veteran, Wittwer has served as CEO of TDS Telecom since 2006. He will continue to serve as a member of the TDS board of directors. As CEO, Wittwer set a focus on expanding the company via organic and inorganic growth initiatives. Since becoming CEO, Wittwer has grown TDS Telecom's portfolio through strategic acquisitions, which included wireline providers, cable companies, hosted & managed services operations and data centers.
TDS said this corporate diversification resulted in new revenue growth, new product and service rollouts, productivity gains and the development of quality employment opportunities for thousands of employees.
Wittwer and Butman will work collaboratively to accomplish a smooth transition over the next several months.