GTE names three to top positions to lead international directories efforts

DALLAS -- GTE today announced it has named three top-level executives to lead its international directories efforts: Douglas C. LaVelle, president -- GTE Directories International; Bill J. Brewer, GTE Directories vice president/general manager -- Europe and Latin America; and Joseph Kuyek, GTE Directories vice president/general manager -- Canada and Asia.

 

LaVelle, who reports to Michael B. Esstman, senior vice president of international telecom services, is responsible for GTEs international directories operations, including new business development and global strategic partnerships.

 

This is an important time for GTE as the company moves aggressively into the international marketplace, Esstman said. LaVelles 25 years experience with the company, his international business development expertise and his leadership skills make him the ideal person to lead our efforts.

 

Brewer will have operational responsibility, including partner relations and operational management, for GTEs directory businesses in Belgium, Hungary, Poland, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic.

 

Kuyek will have similar responsibilities for GTE Directories operations in Canada and Asia.

 

Bills and Joes international experience and proven leadership skills position them well for their new responsibilities, said LaVelle. They both will ensure that GTEs directories presence abroad remains strong and that the company stays committed to its strategy of international growth.

 

GTE plans additional international directories personnel announcements in the near future as it continues to grow its global resources.

 

 

 

About GTE and GTE Directories

 

With revenues of more than $21 billion in 1996, GTE is one of the largest publicly held telecommunications companies in the world. In the United States, GTE offers local and wireless service in 29 states and long-distance service in all 50 states. GTE was the first among its peers to offer one-stop shopping for local, long distance and Internet access services.

 

Outside the United States, where GTE has operated for more than 40 years, the company serves approximately 7 million customers. GTE is also a leader in government and defense communications systems and equipment, directories and telecommunications-based information services, and aircraft-passenger telecommunications.

 

The companys Directories unit, based in Dallas, is a leader in linking buyers and sellers through effective advertising and information media. It provides sales and other directory-related services for more than 2,400 directory titles in 16 countries, including Belgium, Hungary and Poland, with a total circulation of 84 million. It develops and markets new media services such as GTEs SuperPages Interactive Service (http://superpages.gte.net), a premier Internet-based advertising and information resource.