Key Takeaways
- New Leadership: Lumen Technologies has appointed Jim Fowler as its new Executive Vice President and Chief Technology & Product Officer, effective January 5, 2026.
- Executive Transition: The current CTO, Dave Ward, is stepping down to join Salesforce as President and Chief Architect. He will remain with Lumen through January 23, 2026, to ensure a smooth transition.
- Deep Experience: Fowler brings over 25 years of technology leadership experience from high-profile roles at Nationwide Insurance, General Electric, and AT&T.
- AI Focus: This leadership change underscores Lumen’s strategic commitment to transforming its network to support the growing demands of enterprise AI workloads.
Lumen Technologies has announced a significant leadership transition, appointing Jim Fowler as its new Chief Technology & Product Officer. The move signals the company’s continued focus on positioning its network as the essential infrastructure for the artificial intelligence revolution.
Fowler will officially step into the role on January 5, 2026, taking the reins from Dave Ward, who is departing to become President and Chief Architect at Salesforce.
A New Leader for an AI-Driven Future
Fowler is a seasoned technology executive with a proven track record of modernizing critical infrastructure at a massive scale. Before joining Lumen, he served as the Executive Vice President and CTO at Nationwide Insurance, where he was instrumental in scaling intelligent automation and overhauling core technology systems.
His extensive career also includes a nearly two-decade tenure at General Electric (GE), where he held multiple senior technology positions, including Global Chief Information Officer. Fowler began his career at AT&T, giving him a foundational understanding of the telecommunications landscape.
A Seamless Strategic Transition
Lumen CEO Kate Johnson emphasized that the appointment is designed to accelerate the company’s growth. She noted that while invention creates value, execution is what realizes it, positioning Fowler as the ideal leader to build on the foundational work established by Ward.
Fowler is already deeply familiar with Lumen’s strategy, having served on its Board of Directors since 2023. He resigned from the board upon accepting the new executive role. This inside perspective is expected to minimize disruption and allow him to immediately execute the company’s AI network roadmap.
“Lumen has a unique opportunity to strengthen its position as the trusted network for AI,” Fowler said. “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.”
Continuity and Future Roadmap
Dave Ward’s contributions were praised by Johnson, who stated his vision will influence Lumen’s trajectory for years to come. His move to Salesforce highlights the increasing importance of robust network architecture in the AI-powered CRM space.
Lumen has affirmed that this leadership change will not alter its previously announced technology roadmap or strategic priorities. The company is set to unveil more details about its plans during its Investor Day presentation in New York on February 25, 2026. The focus remains squarely on its multi-billion-dollar network expansion designed to meet the surging connectivity demands of enterprise AI.
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