Paul R. Gudonis Named President of GTE Internetworking; GeorgeH. Conrades To Leave GTE Following 37-Year Career of BuildingBusinesses in Telecommunications and Computer Industries

STAMFORD, Conn. - GTE today announced that it has named Paul R. Gudonis president, GTE Internetworking, reporting to GTE President Kent B. Foster. Mr. Gudonis succeeds George H. Conrades, who will leave GTE effective August 1 following a career that has spanned 37 years in the computer, Internet and telecommunications industries.

Mr. Gudonis, age 44, most recently was president, GTE Internetworking Services, GTE's Internet services business unit. Mr. Conrades, age 59, will become a venture partner at Polaris Venture Partners, a venture capital firm based in Boston and Seattle.

"Paul Gudonis has the credentials and the Internet-related experience to play a key role as we build upon our growth strategy," Mr. Foster said. "Paul led the Internet services business at BBN, and has been at the epicenter of our data activities at GTE. We look forward to his continued leadership."

GTE Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Charles R. Lee said, "George has been a major force in industries that now are converging into a new telecommunications paradigm. We have been very fortunate to benefit from his significant experience and his understanding of a wide range of high-tech businesses."

Mr. Foster continued, "With the help of George's wisdom and counsel, GTE has taken giant steps into the data arena. We will miss him greatly, although we are fully confident that he has helped lay the groundwork for our data and internetworking strategy to continue its rapid progress."

Mr. Conrades said, "After 37 years in the high-tech industry and significant operating roles, I look forward to participating as more of an individual contributor. I've been lucky enough to witness the birth of several industries, from transistorized computers to PCs to information services to the commercial Internet. I've also been very fortunate to have worked with some truly fabulous people, especially over the last four years at BBN and GTE.

"This company today is smack in the middle of the most profound union of technologies and markets the world has ever seen. Helping GTE in this environment as it implements its aggressive strategy to become a top-tier telecommunications provider has been a perfect cap to my executive management career."

Mr. Gudonis has been involved in bringing several new communications services to market over the last 15 years, from cellular telephones to Internet service. Gudonis assumed responsibility for all of GTE's business and consumer Internet services in mid-1997, after the acquisition of BBN Corporation by GTE. He had led the creation and growth of BBN's Internet services division, BBN Planet, since November 1994.

Starting his career at AT&T; and Ameritech, he launched the country's first commercial cellular phone service as vice president-marketing at Ameritech Mobile Communications. Attracted to start-ups, he joined Spectrum Interactive as vice president-sales and marketing, and tripled the revenue of this interactive multimedia services company in three years. He then became senior vice president and general manager of Appex Corporation, which pioneered nationwide roaming services for cellular users, and provided billing and clearinghouse services to the cellular carrier industry.

After Appex was acquired by EDS Corporation, he launched EDS' Communications Industry Group International division and served as general manager to provide systems integration, development and outsourcing services to media and telecommunications firms outside the United States. In three years, this division generated $250 million in business with operations in over 20 countries in Europe, Latin America, and Asia/Pacific.

Mr. Gudonis received a B.S. in electrical engineering from Northwestern University in 1976 and an MBA from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration in 1980.

Mr. Conrades was named corporate executive vice president and president - GTE Internetworking for GTE Corporation in July 1997. Previously, he served as president and CEO of BBN Corporation, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, since January 1994, becoming chairman in November 1995. Mr. Conrades is a former IBM senior vice president and member of IBM's Corporate Management Board.

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