PORT TOWNSEND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In a manner harkening to both its employee-owner culture and industry position, AP&T Board Chairman William Squires made today’s historic announcement to employees via a live videoconference stating, “It is with great pleasure and the complete and full confidence of Alaska Power & Telephone’s Board of Directors that I announce to you today, Michael Garrett has been selected to replace the company’s long-time President and CEO Robert Grimm as our new CEO when he retires at the end of 2016. It is the end of an era – and the beginning of another.”
Garrett, AP&T’s COO and Executive Vice President, is a CPA, is currently serving as President of the Alaska Exchange Carriers Association and has recently served as President of the Alaska Telephone Association. His exceptional focus to detail is a hallmark of laddering-up the corporate structure since coming to AP&T from a utility industry finance background in Southern California. When informed of his new role Garrett responded: “I’m proud to be selected as the next CEO of AP&T. Throughout my 27 years, I’ve come to know that the value of our company isn’t in the infrastructure we build, but in the experience, dedication and ingenuity of our employees who together ARE AP&T.”
Yet it is his foresight in spearheading moves to build AP&T’s 340-mile Southeast Alaska Microwave Network and the soon-to-be-completed Lynn Canal Undersea Fiber Link between Juneau, Haines and Skagway that opens the door to a robust Yukon data pathway, which elicited the following description of Garrett from outgoing CEO Robert Grimm: “I would best describe him as a ‘grounded-visionary.’ Someone whose ability to adeptly align AP&T’s assets with regional market potential (and the regulatory environment) has resulted in amplified customer and stakeholder value.”
The leadership hand-off, while dramatic in terms of era-ending, will in practical terms be much less so as Mr. Garrett has been instrumental in the success and growth of AP&T. He is integrally familiar with what has led to that success, and is best positioned to continue to capitalize on existing and projected company investments.
Celebrating 59 years of reliability and innovation, Alaska Power & Telephone Company provides energy and communication services to 40 communities stretching from the Arctic Circle to the southernmost tip of Southeast Alaska.
If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Mark McCready at 360-385-1733 x 117 or email at Mark.m@aptalaska.com.
