ASHBURN, Va., April 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- WorldCom, Inc. (WCOEQ, MCWEQ) today announced the appointment of Robert T. Blakely as its Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective April 14, 2003. Blakely brings more than 30 years of experience in corporate finance, having served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Tenneco Inc., and of Lyondell Chemical, and as a Managing Director of Morgan Stanley.
Mr. Blakely recently completed a four-year appointment as a member of the
Financial Accounting Standards Advisory Council, which advises the Financial
Accounting Standards Board on issues relating to accounting rulemaking,
financial reporting and disclosure. He also served as a founding member of
Standard & Poor's Issuer Advisory Council until his retirement from Lyondell.
The Issuer Advisory Council, comprised of treasurers and CFOs, provides
critical feedback from debt issuers on rating policy and procedures.
"Bob's 30 years of experience, along with his impeccable reputation for
integrity, further strengthens our executive management team," said Michael
Capellas, MCI chairman and CEO. "His background in accounting, internal
controls, capital markets and general management makes him the ideal executive
to lead our finance organization, help the company emerge from Chapter 11
protection later this year, and work closely with the investment community
post-emergence."
Blakely served as Tenneco's Executive Vice President and CFO from 1981 to
1999 and held the same position with Lyondell Chemical from 1999 to 2002. He
will be based in MCI's corporate headquarters in Ashburn, Va.
"I look forward to continuing the outstanding work that has already
started and to create a solid financial foundation for the company," said
Blakely. "MCI has a very bright future. I'm proud to be part of the new
leadership team."
"I would like to thank Victoria Harker, who has served as our Acting CFO
over the past months," said Capellas. "She stepped in and did an incredible
job of filling a big void in the organization while we conducted the CFO
search. Victoria will continue to play an important role in our
reorganization process."
Blakely graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Mechanical
Engineering and an M.B.A. He also holds a Ph.D from the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology.
Blakely has been active in civic and community affairs including serving
as a trustee of Cornell University and the Houston Museum of Fine Arts, as
well as on the Board of Visitors of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson
Cancer Center.
About WorldCom, Inc.
WorldCom, Inc. (WCOEQ, MCWEQ) is a leading global communications provider,
delivering innovative, cost-effective, advanced communications connectivity to
businesses, governments and consumers. With the industry's most complete
global IP backbone and one of the world's most expansive, wholly-owned data
networks, WorldCom develops the converged communications products and services
that are the foundation for commerce and communications in today's market. For
more information, go to http://www.mci.com .
SOURCE WorldCom, Inc.
Web Site: http://www.worldcom.com