Lumen Technologies Announces Board Chair Transition, New Director Nominee and Executive Role Expansions

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 17, 2026--

Lumen Technologies, Inc. (“Lumen”) (NYSE: LUMN ) today announced that Mike Glenn, Chair of Lumen’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), and Hal Stanley Jones, a director and Chair of the Audit Committee, have advised the Board that they will retire and not stand for re-election at Lumen’s 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”).

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General Kevin P. Chilton (USAF, Ret.), an existing Lumen Technologies board member, has been selected to serve as the next Chair of the Board, effective following the company's 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Chilton retired from the U.S. Air Force as a four-star General in 2011, concluding a 34-year career with service as Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. He also previously served as Commander of Air Force Space Command, as a NASA astronaut on three space shuttle flights and as Deputy Program Manager of the International Space Station. At Lumen, he has served as a Board member and the Chair of the Risk and Security Committee since 2018.

As part of a planned succession process, the Board has selected General Kevin P. Chilton (USAF, Ret.), an existing member of the Board since 2017, to serve as the next Chair of the Board, effective following the Annual Meeting. The Board has also identified a successor for the Audit Committee Chair, underscoring its commitment to continuity, effective risk oversight, and disciplined governance.

The Board also nominated Michael Collins, a partner at Bain & Company, for election to the Board at the Annual Meeting, subject to shareholder approval. Collins brings more than three decades of experience advising global companies on growth strategy, disciplined capital allocation and executing complex operational transformations.

“Mike and Hal have provided exceptional leadership during a pivotal chapter for Lumen, strengthening our governance, sharpening our strategic focus, and advancing the company’s transformation,” said Lumen CEO Kate Johnson. “Mike has been a steady, values-driven Board leader, and a trusted partner to me and our leadership team. Hal’s financial expertise and discipline – particularly in his role as Audit Committee Chair – have been invaluable. On behalf of the full Board and the entire company, we are deeply grateful for their service and lasting impact.”

To maintain company momentum, Glenn and General Chilton will partner closely over the next two months to support a smooth leadership transition, including continued engagement with management and Board committees.

“Hal and I have been proud to help guide Lumen through an important period of change,” said Mike Glenn. “The company has a strong leadership team, a clear growth strategy, and a Board committed to doing what it takes to win in the next era of digital network infrastructure. I am confident this transition – supported by a thoughtful hand-off to Kevin – will be seamless and will keep Lumen positioned to create value for customers and shareholders.”

Johnson continued: “We are pleased to name General Chilton as our next Board Chair and nominate Michael Collins to our Board. Kevin is a proven leader with deep engineering and operational experience – leading mission-critical organizations where reliability, security, precision execution, and risk management are non-negotiable. Michael brings complementary expertise in scaling complex businesses and driving long-term value creation. Together, they strengthen our Board with the experience and perspective needed as we accelerate into the growth phase of our transformation.”

General Chilton retired from the U.S. Air Force as a four-star General in 2011, concluding a 34-year career with service as Commander of U.S. Strategic Command, where he oversaw plans and operations spanning strategic deterrence as well as the Department of Defense’s space and cyberspace missions. He also previously served as Commander of Air Force Space Command, as a NASA astronaut on three space shuttle flights and as Deputy Program Manager of the International Space Station. At Lumen, he has served as a Board member and the Chair of the Risk and Security Committee since 2018, contributing significant expertise in cybersecurity, risk management and scientific innovation.

“I’m honored to be selected as the Board’s next Chair,” said General Chilton. “Mike and Hal have helped position Lumen for its next phase, and I am committed to building on that foundation. Lumen’s enterprise and public sector customers depend on secure, resilient, high-performance networks, and I look forward to supporting Kate and the leadership team as they continue executing with speed, operational excellence, and customer focus.”

Collins is a partner at Bain & Company, where he oversees the company’s portfolio of specialized consulting businesses spanning digital innovation, design and procurement solutions. During his tenure as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Bain more than tripled in size and was repeatedly recognized as a top global workplace. Over his 30-plus year career at Bain, he has advised companies across telecommunications, retail, consumer products, automotive and media industries. Collins serves on the Board of Directors of Jacobs Solutions Inc., a global professional services company focused on infrastructure and advanced facilities.

“Lumen has reached a pivotal moment in its transformation and is well positioned as essential digital infrastructure for enterprise and public sector customers,” said Michael Collins. “I’m excited to join the Board at this next phase of growth and to support the management team as they execute on a disciplined long-term strategy to create value for customers and shareholders.”

As Lumen enters the growth phase of its transformation, the company is also announcing expanded leadership roles to align with its enterprise growth strategy and AI-driven future:

“These leadership expansions position us to execute with speed, scale and clarity as we accelerate the growth phase of our transformation,” said Johnson.

About Lumen Technologies

Lumen is unleashing the world's digital potential. We ignite business growth by connecting people, data, and applications – quickly, securely, and effortlessly. As the trusted network for AI, Lumen uses the scale of our network to help companies realize AI's full potential. From metro connectivity to long-haul data transport to our edge cloud, security, managed service, and digital platform capabilities, we meet our customers’ needs today and as they build for tomorrow.

For news and insights visit news.lumen.com, LinkedIn: /lumentechnologies, X: lumentechco, Facebook: /lumentechnologies, Instagram: @lumentechnologies and YouTube: /lumentechnologies. Lumen and Lumen Technologies are registered trademarks of Lumen Technologies LLC in the United States. Lumen Technologies LLC is a wholly owned affiliate of Lumen Technologies, Inc.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including statements regarding management’s expectations with respect to our business, strategy and operations as well as statements identified by words such as “estimates,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “plans,” “intends,” “will,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are not promises nor guarantees of future results, are based on our current expectations only and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including those described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as updated in our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated by us in these statements due to several factors, including those referenced in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Michael Collins, a partner at Bain & Company, has been nominated for election to the Board of Directors at Lumen's 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Collins brings more than three decades of experience advising global companies on growth strategy, disciplined capital allocation and complex organizational transformations.

CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois voters decided primaries Tuesday for six open U.S. House and Senate seats that will spur a new generation of leadership in the state’s heavily Democratic congressional delegation.

The retirement of longtime Sen. Dick Durbin, a Democrat, triggered a competitive campaign, drawing as candidates two sitting House members and the lieutenant governor, among others. Sharp elbows and furious fundraising marked the race, which also was a test of the influence of Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker, a billionaire whose name is floated as a 2028 presidential contender.

A spate of House retirements led to open seats with crowded contests across the Chicago area. The stakes were high, with most primary winners in the Democratic stronghold expected to win in November.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee and PACs supporting the cryptocurrency and AI industries also spent big on several of the contests.

Polls closed at 7 p.m. Central, though voters in line at that time were still able to cast ballots.

Ten Democrats and six Republicans ran after Durbin, the Senate’s No. 2 Democrat, announced his retirement after five terms.

Three top Democrats emerged: Chicago-area U.S. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton.

Krishnamoorthi dominated fundraising and the airwaves, and was the first on television with ads in July. He started 2026 with over $15 million on hand after spending more than $6 million and raising more than $3.5 million in the final three months of last year, according to campaign finance records.

By comparison, Stratton started the year with $1 million after raising about the same amount and spending just under $1 million in the last three months of 2025. But last month Pritzker put $5 million in a super PAC largely aimed at helping get her elected.

She campaigned on Pritzker's endorsement and lit into Krishnamoorthi at debates, particularly on the five-term Democrat's voting record and donations from a contractor tied to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“That is not the example of somebody who’s going to stand up to Donald Trump and fight for all of our communities,” Stratton said during a debate January. “I want to abolish ICE.”

Krishnamoorthi, who has called to dismantle ICE, said he donated the money to immigrant rights groups. He argued that Stratton zeroed in on him because she “didn’t have any policy ideas. She had to attack.”

Rochelle Brockenborough, 64, said she voted for Stratton at the Dr. Martin Luther King Community Service Center in Chicago.

“I wanted to make sure there was no AIPAC money. That’s important to me,” she said, adding that U.S. tax dollars shouldn't be used to support Israel.

Meanwhile Kelly took issue with Pritzker’s involvement, arguing that a sitting governor should not interfere.

Shana Sumers, 36, said she voted for Kelly to support marginalized communities, such as transgender people. She also called the Iran war “a big distraction.”

“We really need to be able to afford housing, afford health care, afford to go to the grocery store,” Sumers said.

Candidates touted ties to iconic Chicagoans including President Barack Obama and the late Rev. Jesse Jackson, who died last month. However, an endorsement touted posthumously by Stratton caused a snag as Jackson's family withdrew it Monday, saying the draft was not meant for public release.

Election officials hoped to see busy polls after statewide turnout in the 2024 primary was 19%, the lowest in more than five decades.

Among issues reported Tuesday were complaints that poll workers in Madison County asked voters to show ID, drawing attention from the local elections office and the state attorney general. Officials in the southern Illinois county said the issue in one precinct was resolved. Showing an ID at a polling place is not required in Illinois.

In the Republican primary, six candidates were on the ballot including Don Tracy, former Illinois Republican Party chairman, and attorney Jeannie Evans. Illinois last had a Republican in the Senate a decade ago, when Mark Kirk was defeated by current Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth.

Dozens of candidates ran for five open seats in the Chicago area, where funding from groups supporting Israel and the cryptocurrency industry played an outsize role.

Ten Democrats and one Republican were on the ballot in Kelly’s district, the 2nd, which spans parts of the South Side and suburbs and dips into the central Illinois farmlands. Among the Democrats were former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., son of the late civil rights leader, Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller and state Sen. Robert Peters.

The open seat in Krishnamoorthi's suburban 8th District attracted eight Democratic candidates, including former U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean and Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison.

Two other House members are retiring after long careers.

The 7th District of Rep. Danny Davis, who was first elected in 1996, covers parts of downtown, the West Side and suburbs. Democratic front-runners to replace him included state Rep. La Shawn Ford, City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin, developer Jason Friedman and Kina Collins, a community organizer. Two Republicans are running.

Rep. Jan Schakowsky is also retiring, after 14 terms, and the primary field for her 9th District seat was the most crowded. Among the 15 Democratic candidates were Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, digital creator Kat Abughazaleh and state Sen. Laura Fine. Four Republicans are running.

Another open Chicago area seat was that of Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, who announced that he would not seek reelection citing health and personal reasons. The Democratic primary was uncontested after Garcia quietly schemed to place his chief of staff, Patty Garcia, on the ballot without any Democratic competition.

Patty Garcia, who is not related to the congressman, will face Republican Lupe Castillo, who also ran unopposed, in November.

Pritzker, an heir to the Hyatt Hotel fortune who was unopposed in his primary, is the first governor to seek a third term since the 1980s.

One of President Donald Trump’s most vocal critics, Pritzker used a campaign ad this month to highlight efforts to oppose the aggressive federal immigration crackdown in Chicago last year.

“I will always stand up for the law and the Constitution,” he said. “Because that’s what we do in the state of Illinois.”

Pritzker also made digs at Republican candidate Darren Bailey, a former state senator whom he handily defeated in 2022.

Bailey, among four Republicans vying for the nomination, said he was now doing things differently. For one, he focused more on Chicago voters by choosing running mate Aaron Del Mar, who leads the Republican Party in Cook County.

Bailey criticized Pritzker’s leadership, including blaming him for rising costs.

“He’s just another billionaire who has never once felt the pain he’s inflicted,” he said.

Also in the Republican primary were Ted Dabrowski, a real estate developer; Rick Heidner, a video gambling magnate; and DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick.

Associated Press journalists Mike Householder in Chicago and Hannah Fingerhut in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed.

Democratic candidate for Congress, Kat Abughazaleh smiles as she walks to vote on Election Day at Chicago Park District Loyola field house in Chicago, Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), who is running in the Senate Democratic Primary Election, talks with election judges at Nerge Elementary School polling place in Schaumburg, Ill., Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Democratic candidate for Congress, Kat Abughazaleh, center, casts her vote in a primary election for the upcoming midterms, in Chicago, Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Patty García speaks during a news conference to announce her candidacy for the fourth district congressional race, Nov. 12, 2025, in Cicero, Ill. (Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)