Princeton-based Astound, a leader in Wi-Fi, mobile, TV and fiber‑optic solutions, announced that Ettienne Brandt has joined the company as chief executive officer, effective immediately.
He will lead Astound as it continues to execute its network expansion and prepares for a planned combination with GFiber (formerly Google Fiber), following an agreement announced on March 11, to combine the two companies and create the largest independent fiber-based broadband provider in the country.
Brandt brings more than 25 years of experience in the telecommunications industry across multiple scaled wireless and broadband platforms.
“Astound has built an enviable combination of powerful fiber infrastructure and a strong heritage of delivering superior service to both residential and commercial customers across the U.S.,” said Brandt.
He most recently served as executive vice president, Commercial at Frontier Communications, where he was a key senior executive in the company’s successful transformation, ultimately leading to Frontier’s $20 billion sale to Verizon.
“Ettienne brings a proven and diversified track record of industry leadership, most recently at Frontier, at an exciting moment in Astound’s history,” said Andrew Thomas, senior managing director, and Richard Brode, managing director at Stonepeak, a majority shareholder in the venture combining GFiber and Astound.
“He is a forward‑thinking leader who knows how to energize and scale organizations, deliver exceptional customer service and drive long‑term growth.”
Before Frontier, Brandt has worked for various telecommunications providers, including British Telecom, EE and Orange & ntl (now Virgin Media), and he has vast experience in the consumer and commercial segments within wireless and wireline.
