Aaron D. Cowell, Jr., age 45, was elected to the Board of Directors and appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of US LEC in 2002. Prior to that, Mr. Cowell had served as President and Chief Operating Officer since 2000. Mr. Cowell joined US LEC in August 1998 as Executive Vice President and General Counsel. During 1998 and 1999, his responsibilities were expanded to include sales, engineering, marketing, customer care services and field sales support. He has held positions on the Board of Directors of industry organizations CompTel and Association for Local Telecommunication Services (ALTS) through which he has helped promote an environment that is more conducive to fair competition in the telecommunications industry. Mr. Cowell is a graduate of Duke University and Harvard Law School. Mr. Cowell resigned as a director and as President and Chief Executive Officer on November 27, 2006 and his employment with US LEC terminated effective December 4, 2006. |