Updated: Top executive Hakl departs Verizon for Microsoft

Long-time Verizon executive Shawn Hakl has left the company and joined Microsoft. Hakl said on a LinkedIn message that he has left Verizon for Microsoft, but didn't say what his new title was. Verizon didn't respond to emails and a phone call to ask who, if anyone, has replaced Hakl.

Update: Hakl's LinkedIn profile lists his full-time position at Microsoft as "partner" and that he started there in March.

Prior to his departure, Hakl played a key role at Verizon as its senior vice president for business products. Hakl held that position for over five years before departing.

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Hakl was instrumental in the development of Verizon's white box strategy, SD-WAN service, MPLS service and closed-loop automation roadmap. He was also responsible for supporting the enterprise, small-medium business, wireless, wholesale and channel partner business units. 

Shawn Hakl

Hakl was also a speaker at industry events and was on MEF's board of directors for two years prior to Verizon Business' Aamir Hussain, senior vice president and chief product officer, replacing him on the board earlier this year. Hussain was the former CTO at CenturyLink before he was replaced by current CTO Andrew Dugan in 2018.

Hakl first went to work for Verizon 20 years ago. He held various positions, including vice president for Verizon Information Technologies and head of products and solutions for Verizon Enterprise Solutions Group, according to his LinkedIn profile.

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Two years ago, Hakl was named as one of FierceTelecom's top movers and shakers in the telecommunications industry.