Our Leadership Team

Eugene B. Johnson

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Gene Johnson co-founded the company and has been chief executive officer since January 2002, adding the chairman's position in January 2003. Before that, Johnson led FairPoint's corporate development efforts as executive vice president. A former captain in the U.S. Army, he started his career as a certified public accountant. He owned a cable television construction company and later became head of the mergers & acquisitions group of Cable Investments, Inc. He also served as president and principal shareholder of JC&A, Inc., an investment banking and brokerage firm providing services to the cable TV, phone and related industries. Today he serves on the board of trustees for the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and is a regular supporter of local civic activities.

Peter G. Nixon

President
Peter Nixon has been responsible for directing FairPoint's operations since November 2002. He began his career in 1978 when he joined Chautauqua and Erie Telephone Corporation (C&E). When FairPoint acquired C&E in July 1997, Nixon was named president of C&E. Since 1999, he has served FairPoint in positions of increasing responsibility including president of FairPoint's eastern region, chief operating officer and then president of the Telecom Group and senior vice president of corporate development, where he was responsible for acquisitions and new revenue opportunities.

Lisa R. Hood

Chief Operating Officer, Telecom Group
Lisa Hood was appointed FairPoint’s chief operating officer of the Telecom Group in April 2007. She previously served as senior vice president and controller. Before joining FairPoint, she served as manager of a local public accounting firm in Kansas. She is a certified public accountant and is based in FairPoint’s Dodge City, Kansas office.

Walter E. Leach, Jr.

Executive Vice President, Corporate Development
Walter Leach joined FairPoint in October 1994 as chief financial officer, adding the title of senior vice president in 1998. In July 2004, Leach was promoted to executive vice president (EVP) and in June 2005, became EVP of corporate development. Leach is responsible for merger and acquisition activity for the corporation. Before joining FairPoint, he spent 10 years at Independent Hydro Developers as EVP responsible for project acquisition, financing and development activities. From 1980 to 1984, he was vice president of investor relations for Pillsbury Company and served as treasurer, assistant treasurer and controller for Burger King Corporation.

John P. Crowley

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
John Crowley is responsible for FairPoint’s financial reporting and control, investor relations, treasury and risk management. Crowley joined FairPoint in May 2005 after independent investment banking for telecommunications clients in Europe and the United States, including FairPoint. In June 2005, he was named executive vice president and chief financial officer. He was previously a managing director of BT Alex. Brown in London. He is a graduate of St. Lawrence University and holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Shirley J. Linn

Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Shirley Linn is responsible for managing FairPoint’s legal matters including contracts, securities law compliance, employment issues and acquisitions. She joined the company in October 2000. Before that she was a partner with the Charlotte law firm of Underwood Kinsey Warren & Tucker, P.A., where she specialized in general business matters, particularly mergers and acquisitions. She began her legal career in New York City. As outside counsel, she represented FairPoint in 10 of its phone company acquisitions.