Lumen Elevates Melissa Mann and Jessica Taylor to Chief Officer Roles, Strengthening Public Policy and Communications Leadership

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 26, 2026--

Lumen Technologies (NYSE: LUMN) today announced the elevation of Melissa Mann to Chief Public Policy Officer and the promotion of Jessica Taylor to Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer. The appointments underscore the strategic importance of public policy and communications as Lumen advances its transformation and deepens its engagement with government and enterprise customers.

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“Melissa and Jessica are exceptional leaders who have helped shape Lumen’s voice, strengthen our stakeholder engagement, and advance our public policy priorities,” said Lumen CEO Kate Johnson. “Melissa has built a credible, effective public policy organization, and Jessica has played a critical role in sharpening our communications strategy and corporate narrative during a pivotal period for the company. These elevations reflect both the importance of these functions and our commitment to recognizing and elevating strong leaders who are driving meaningful impact across the business.”

Mann has been a trusted leader at Lumen for nearly a decade, shaping the company’s public policy strategy and fostering strong relationships with legislators, regulators, and industry stakeholders. In her expanded role as Chief Public Policy Officer, she will continue leading Lumen’s global advocacy efforts in support of the company’s work with government and regulated industry customers, as well as the advancement of Lumen’s network, AI, and digital transformation initiatives.

“I’m honored to step into this role and continue advancing policy work that supports Lumen, our industry and the communities we serve,” said Mann. “I’m proud of the strong relationships our team has built and the role we play in driving thoughtful advocacy that supports Lumen’s long-term growth.”

Since joining Lumen, Taylor has led the company’s communications strategy across executive communications, media relations, corporate positioning, corporate events, and employee engagement. She will continue leading Lumen’s integrated communications organization, ensuring the company’s voice, brand and narrative remain clear, consistent, and aligned as Lumen advances its transformation.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead this team in a new capacity at such an important moment for Lumen,” said Taylor. “It has been deeply rewarding to help shape how we communicate our transformation across channels and with key stakeholders. I’m thankful for the trust of our leadership and for the communications team whose creativity, clarity and commitment make this work possible every day.”

These elevations underscore Lumen’s commitment to strong leadership across critical corporate functions. Together, Mann and Taylor will play central roles in how Lumen engages stakeholders, advances its strategy, and continues to execute its transformation.

For more information about Lumen and its leadership, visit news.lumen.com.

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.

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Lumen Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer Jessica Taylor

Lumen Chief Public Policy Officer Melissa Mann

ARAFAT, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Muslim pilgrims from around the world congregated on Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, the second official day of the annual Islamic pilgrimage, considered the pinnacle of Hajj.

Despite the sweltering heat, the pilgrims gathered on the rocky hill and surrounding plain for intense prayers that often mark a spiritual peak. Typically, they fervently murmur prayers and pour their hearts out in supplications, asking God for forgiveness, mercy, blessings and good health. It is common for many pilgrims on that day to raise their hands in worship, with tears streaming down their faces.

Hajj, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, is required once in a lifetime for every Muslim who can afford it and is physically able to perform it.

For pilgrims, Hajj, performed over several days, can be a deeply moving spiritual experience and a chance to seek God’s forgiveness and the erasure of past sins. As they brave the intense heat to perform religious rituals, many pilgrims have been using umbrellas for shade.

A Saudi official said on Friday that more than 1.5 million pilgrims have arrived in the country from abroad.

This year, Muslims have been pouring into Saudi Arabia for the Hajj against the backdrop of a tenuous ceasefire in the Iran war and related uncertainty in the region.

The U.S. military said Monday that it carried out “self-defense” strikes in southern Iran, including on missile launch sites and boats used to lay mines, even as President Donald Trump said on social media that negotiations with Tehran were “proceeding nicely.”

For many, performing the Hajj can be a realization of a lifelong dream as they spend years hoping and praying to one day be able to undertake the pilgrimage or saving up money and waiting for a permit to embark on the trip.

“This happens once in a lifetime,” Mohammad Asal, an Egyptian pilgrim, said. “People here have prepared their prayers, hoping that God will respond to them, because we know that ... the most important ritual of the Hajj is being in Arafat.”

Hajj brings together large numbers of Muslims of diverse races, ethnicities, languages and socioeconomic classes, creating a sense of unity for many. It’s a mass, communal experience, with Muslims performing rituals together. But it is also deeply personal, as every pilgrim brings their own yearnings and experiences.

“Our wishes are many,” Mohammad Obaid, a Sudanese pilgrim, said, adding he was praying for Sudan and Muslims everywhere.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

A Muslim pilgrim pray atop of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Muslim pilgrims walk towards the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Muslim pilgrims are silhouetted as they pray at top of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Muslim pilgrims pray at top of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Muslim pilgrims read a copy of Islam's holy book Quran atop of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)