Brightspeed Announces CEO Transition

Telecommunications industry veteran Shawn O’Donnell appointed as Chief Executive Officer

Michel Combes to continue as Chairman of the Board of Directors

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Brightspeed (the “Company”), the nation’s third-largest fiber broadband builder, today announced the appointment of Shawn O’Donnell as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. O’Donnell succeeds Michel Combes, who will continue serving as Chairman of the Board.

O’Donnell brings more than 30 years of experience leading, operating, and advising telecommunications and technology businesses, with a strong track record of driving operational improvement and positioning companies for long-term success. His appointment reflects Brightspeed’s continued focus on disciplined execution and delivering fast and reliable broadband to homes and businesses across its 20-state footprint.

“Shawn is a highly accomplished telecommunications operator whose deep industry experience makes him exceptionally well suited to lead Brightspeed,” Combes said. “He joins at an important time as Brightspeed continues to expand its fiber network and deliver on its mission of bringing high-quality connectivity to communities across the country. I have great confidence in Shawn and in the Brightspeed team and look forward to supporting them in my capacity as Chairman.”

Throughout his career, O’Donnell has held senior leadership roles across the telecom industry, including serving as President and CEO of Arbinet, President and CEO of PTGi’s International Carrier Services Division, and CEO of Innovative Companies. He has also served on the boards of several telecommunications companies, including Lumos Networks and Alaska Communications. Most recently, he served as Senior Managing Director at FTI Consulting, where he led the firm’s Americas Telecom, Media & Technology practice, advising companies across the sector on strategy and operational performance.

“I am honored to join Brightspeed and to work alongside its talented team,” O’Donnell said. “Brightspeed has made meaningful progress on its strategic priorities, including its fiber network build, and I am energized by the opportunity to build on that momentum. I look forward to working with Michel and the rest of the Board, as well as the broader leadership team, to advance these efforts and continue providing the reliable, high-quality service our customers count on.”

Since Combes assumed the role of Brightspeed’s Acting CEO in 2025, the Company has exceeded three million fiber passings, enhanced the customer experience, improved churn and penetration across its footprint, and secured more than $500 million in local, state, and federal broadband funding. It was always anticipated that Combes would return to his role as Chairman, and Brightspeed looks forward to his continued guidance and leadership.

About Brightspeed

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C. and with assets and associated operations in 20 states, Brightspeed provides broadband and telecommunications services through a network platform capable of serving more than 7.3 million homes and businesses. Our employees are committed to building a future where more communities benefit from a more connected life, deploying a state-of-the-art fiber network and a customer experience that makes being connected as simple as it should be. For more information, please visit www.brightspeed.com.