Roland R. Thornton
Executive Vice President,
Wholesale Markets

Roland Thornton is the executive vice president for Wholesale Markets, a position he has held since 2004. He is responsible for sales, service, carrier relations and operations for Qwest’s wholesale business serving competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs), multiple system operators (MSOs), incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs), independent telephone companies (ICOs), international service providers, Internet/enhanced service providers (ISPs/ESPs), interexchange carriers (IXCs), national service resellers and wireless service providers (WSPs).

Mr. Thornton has spent more than 30 years in the telecommunications industry. Prior to his current role, Mr. Thornton was senior vice president of customer service operations for Qwest’s Wholesale Markets. He has held several other senior management positions including those of vice president, interconnection services for SBC; vice president, customer operations for Ameritech; and co-founder of the consulting firm Acquired Knowledge, Ltd.

Mr. Thornton earned a bachelor of science degree from Indiana University with a concentration in business administration. He completed graduate studies at the University of Illinois in the masters of information systems program.

He is a member of the board of directors of the Rotary International and is president-elect of the Rotary Club of Denver, where he also serves as a member of the world council of the Food Bank of the Rockies and the Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce (CBCC) and is president of the CBCC Foundation board. Mr. Thornton and his wife, who live in Denver, are the parents of three grown children.