MIAMI, FL – Canadian John Reid is retiring from his role as CEO at Cable & Wireless Communications (C&W) in early 2018.
Reid (pictured) said that it is “the right time” for him to step away from the business, noting the completion of the company’s integration with Columbus Communications and the pending split-off of Liberty Latin America (C&W is owned by Liberty Global).
“Clearly as this is yet another ‘new chapter’, I had to ask myself as we approached this moment whether at this time in my life I wanted to commit to this undertaking, knowing that it requires a 3-5-year commitment as the business enters a new exciting phase”, Reid wrote in a note to colleagues on Tuesday. “I can’t deny that after 13 years with C&W and Columbus, and almost 30 years overall in the cable and telecoms business, I look forward to spending more time with my wife, June, our five children and (thus far) three grandchildren, and spending less time traveling…at least for the foreseeable future.”
After joining what was then Cable Atlantic in 1998, Reid went on to spend eight years at former MSO Persona Communications, eventually becoming its EVP and COO. In 2005, Reid joined Columbus Communications and was named its president and COO in 2011. After Columbus was acquired by C&W in 2015, Reid served as its consumer division president before being named CEO in late 2016.
“John has been an exceptional leader for us, steering Cable & Wireless through significant changes and transformation; we have valued John’s dedication and energy and wish him the very best for the future”, said Liberty Global CEO Mike Fries, in a company statement.
“The past 13 years, from helping to build the Columbus business, to the integration of Columbus and C&W, through to leading the new organization as part of the Liberty family, have been the most rewarding of my professional career”, added Reid in his note.
An announcement on C&W’s incoming CEO will be made in due course, and until that time, Reid will remain in the post and will support the transition to new leadership
