CTIA Links Heads of Verizon and Rural Cellular

Earlier today, Verizon Wireless announced plans to increase its base of wireless customers through the acquisition of Rural Cellular Corp. (see article at Barron’s Online). In order to determine how these two companies got to talking, we quickly put together an IntellectSpace Knowledge Map and revealed the relationship that likely facilitated this latest purchase.

As seen here, Lowell C. McAdam and Richard P. Ekstrand, the heads of Verizon Wireless and Rural Cellular, respectively, are clearly linked through the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA). McAdam is the Vice-Chairman of CTIA and Ekstrand is a senior director (and former Chairman and Vice-Chairman) of the wireless industry trade organization. Considering that the two of these distinguished professionals each hold the positions of President and CEO at their respective companies, their regular contact through CTIA likely served a key role in this deal.

Click here for an interactive version of this IntellectSpace Knowledge Map (Internet Explorer browsers only): http://nv.intellectspace.com/ispace/GuestMonitor.aspx?id=4c89114f-002f-4a3a-b6e8-8e4cee62201b