Lumen Technologies announced Jim Fowler as Executive Vice President and Chief Technology & Product Officer. Fowler succeeds Dave Ward, who will leave to become President and Chief Architect at Salesforce, remaining with Lumen through January 23 to support the transition. Fowler will report to CEO Kate Johnson and lead Lumen’s technology and product strategy, overseeing the company’s network, digital platforms, and product portfolio.
Fowler has served on Lumen’s Board of Directors since 2023, contributing to the company’s transformation strategy and technology roadmap. He joins from Nationwide Insurance, where he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, leading modernization of core technology, digital transformation, and intelligent automation initiatives. Before that, Fowler held senior technology roles at General Electric and began his career at AT&T.
“I’ve seen firsthand as a board member and a customer the work this team has done to design a next-generation roadmap for the network and products,” Fowler said. Kate Johnson, CEO of Lumen, added, “Dave’s visionary leadership has laid a foundation that will influence Lumen’s trajectory for years ahead, and we thank him for his service. Jim is uniquely suited to lead our technology and product teams as we unlock the value of Dave’s contributions, solidifying our transformation progress and returning Lumen to revenue growth.” The leadership transition will not affect Lumen’s previously announced technology roadmap or strategic growth priorities.