Telecommunications 2023: CHRISTOPHER E. FRENCH

CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT AND CEO, SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS (SHENTEL), EDINBURG

Published August 30, 2023 by Virginia Business

Shentel is focusing on growing Glo Fiber, its optical fiber home and business broadband service. It had more than 138,000 broadband customers at the end of 2023’s first quarter, a period when it added more than 1,000 route miles of fiber to support customers.

With 649 employees in Virginia and 845 total, Shentel reported fiscal 2022 revenue of $267.4 million, up 9% from the previous year. The company has received state grants to expand broadband access in Bedford, Campbell, Franklin and Shenandoah counties as part of an ongoing expansion project that will continue for several years.

French was named Shentel’s president in 1988 after holding several roles in the company, including executive vice president and vice president of network service. He became chairman in 1996. Outside of work, he serves on the board of The Virginia Foundation for Community College Education. He has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and an MBA from the University of Virginia.

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