Kate Johnson has been appointed President, CEO and a member of the company's Board of Directors, with the transition date expected to be November 7, 2022.

Johnson succeeds Jeff Storey, who has announced his retirement after a distinguished 40-year career within the telecommunication and technology industries, including Lumen and its predecessors. Storey will remain with the company through December 31, 2022, to ensure a smooth transition.

Johnson specialises in leading digital and business transformations to drive growth, having held key leadership roles across a variety of Fortune 100 companies, including Oracle, General Electric and Microsoft.

"Kate's appointment and the strategic transition announced today are the culmination of a succession plan that Jeff and the board have been engaged in for the past several years," says T. Michael Glenn, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Lumen.

"I am proud to take on the CEO role and eager to advance the strategy Jeff and the team have created. I'm looking forward to leading this great company through its next chapter and helping customers leverage the Lumen platform to power amazing digital world experiences," Johnson states.

"It has been a privilege to serve as Lumen's CEO," Storey says.

"I am very excited to welcome Kate to Lumen. I believe her experience, leadership and enthusiasm are exactly what we need as we drive the company forward."