Lumen Technologies has announced the appointment of Jim Fowler as Executive Vice President and Chief Technology & Product Officer, effective January 5, 2026. Fowler will take over from Dave Ward, who is leaving Lumen to become President and Chief Architect at Salesforce, the world’s leading AI CRM platform. Ward will remain with Lumen through January 23, 2026, to ensure a seamless leadership transition. Fowler will report directly to Lumen CEO Kate Johnson and will lead the company’s global technology and product strategy. His responsibilities include advancing Lumen’s network infrastructure, digital platforms, and product offerings. Johnson praised Ward’s leadership, noting that his vision has set a strong foundation for Lumen’s long-term success. She highlighted Fowler’s unique ability to drive both innovation and execution, saying he is well-positioned to build on Ward’s contributions and help return Lumen to revenue growth. Fowler has been a member of Lumen’s Board of Directors since 2023, where he played a key role in shaping the company’s transformation strategy and technology roadmap. He has stepped down from the board effective immediately upon joining the executive team. Prior to his appointment at Lumen, Fowler served as Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Nationwide Insurance, where he led the modernization of core systems, digital transformation, and the scaling of intelligent automation across the enterprise. Before Nationwide, Fowler spent nearly two decades at General Electric in senior technology roles, including Global Chief Information Officer, where he oversaw GE’s internal digital transformation. His career began at AT&T in 1993, followed by a stint at Accenture. “I’m excited to join Lumen at a pivotal moment,” Fowler said. “I’ve seen firsthand the progress the team has made in designing a next-generation network and product roadmap. I’m eager to work closely with our engineers and product leaders to accelerate innovation and execute with urgency for our customers and shareholders.” Lumen emphasized that this leadership change will not impact its previously announced technology roadmap or strategic growth priorities. Details will be shared during the company’s Investor Day event in New York on February 25, 2026. Lumen Technologies connects people, data, and applications securely and efficiently, positioning itself as the trusted network for AI. With capabilities spanning metro connectivity, long-haul data transport, edge cloud, security, managed services, and digital platforms, Lumen supports businesses today and prepares them for future innovation.