David R. Schmieg, Former WinStar & Sprint Senior Executive, to Reinforce
Diginet's Leadership Role in Latin America
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- In a move that reaffirms its position
as a broadband wireless leader in Latin America, Diginet Americas, Inc. today
announced the appointment of David R. Schmieg to the position of Chief
Executive Officer.
An innovator in the telecommunications industry, Schmieg brings to Diginet
28 years of leadership experience in executive positions with WinStar, Sprint,
AT&T and Southwestern Bell. Building upon his recent successes, Schmieg will
direct and manage the roll-out of Diginet America's wireless broadband service
in the major urban markets of Latin America.
"Dave is an extraordinarily accomplished, talented and dynamic telecom
executive," said Scott Puritz, Chairman of Diginet Americas, Inc. "His
pioneering experience at building a successful wireless broadband business at
WinStar Telecommunications makes him uniquely qualified to take Diginet to the
next level and build the Company into a world class telecom player."
Prior to joining Diginet, Schmieg served as Group Executive, President and
COO of WinStar International, Inc. with P&L responsibility for WinStar's
global business plan to build out 50 markets in five years with primary focus
on Europe, Asia/Pacific and Latin America.
"I am excited to join this fast growing company which has attracted
talented executives in the industry and is backed by an impressive group of
telecom-savvy private equity investors," said Schmieg. "Diginet is ideally
positioned for rapid growth in Latin America by providing quickly deployable,
high speed, broadband service as an alternative to the traditional telecom
infrastructure." From 1996-1998, Schmieg was President and COO of WinStar
Telecommunications with P&L responsibilities for WinStar's CLEC business. As
President and COO, Schmieg led the design and implementation of the
infrastructure of the national sales and service groups, marketing, network
and wireless services, financial operations, customer satisfaction and all
business and operating support systems, growing employees from 30 to 1,300.
He led the company's expansion of 38 Ghz wireless broadband services for
business-to-business customers into 24 major U.S. markets and grew revenues to
an annual run rate well over $100 million.
Prior to joining WinStar, Schmieg held senior management positions at
Sprint, AT&T and Southwestern Bell. At Sprint, Schmieg was Chief of Staff of
the Long Distance Division and also President of the Consumer Division, with
P&L responsibility for over $2 billion of revenue, 7 million customers and
4,000 employees, and is credited with leading the introduction of the highly
successful Sprint Sense program.
Schmieg was graduated magna cum laude from Central Methodist College with
a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Economics.
About Diginet Americas, Inc.
Diginet Americas, Inc. is a facilities-based telecom provider offering
services through its own fixed wireless broadband networks. Currently,
Diginet Americas has licenses and telecommunications operating authorities to
build, own and operate communications services in Argentina, Brazil andColombia.
Diginet Americas, Inc. has already launched its service branded Diveo(R)
in Buenos Aires, Argentina and is planning 1999 launches in Sao Paulo, Brazil
and Bogota, Colombia to address the growing demand for bandwidth in these
metropolitan markets. Please learn more about Diginet Americas, Inc.'s
mission, business proposition and service offerings by accessing the Web site
at diginetamericas.com. |
