RESTON, Va.—Broadband wireless provider Nextlink Wireless said Robert Beran is the company’s new chief executive officer. As part of the post, Beran also becomes a senior vice president at Nextlink’s parent company, XO Holdings.
Beran is a 20-year veteran of the technology and telecommunications industry. He has held senior executive management positions at General Electric and Bell Atlantic/Verizon. He comes to Nextlink from First Avenue Network, a fixed-wireless backhaul company that he joined in early 2005 as senior vice president of operations.
In other executive news, enhanced directory-assistance provider Metro One Telecommunications Inc. promoted Gary Henry as chief executive officer of the company.
Metro One has been struggling through financial setbacks and the recent loss of a directory-assistance contract with Sprint Nextel Corp., the company’s largest customer.
Henry most recently was Metro One’s executive vice president, chief operating officer and secretary. Henry succeeds James Usdan, who has been serving as president and CEO on an interim basis since October.
The company noted Henry has served an important role in the company’s recent turnaround efforts.
Henry said the company has reached a level of stability and will now focus on growing its customer base, reducing costs and extending its reach into the data services markets.
