Our Leadership Team

Paul H. Sunu

Chief Executive Officer
Paul Sunu joined the company as chief executive officer in August 2010 from Hargray Communications Group, Inc. where he had served as chief financial officer (CFO) since 2008. Mr. Sunu previously served as CFO of Hawaiian Telcom from 2007 to 2008 and as managing director and CFO of Madison River Communications from 1996 to 2007, where he was also one of the company's founders.  He began his career with Arthur Young & Company in Chicago, and then spent the better part of two decades at tax, investment and management consulting firms.  Mr. Sunu currently serves on the board of directors of FairPoint Communications and Integra Telecom.  He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Illinois and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Illinois - College of Law.

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.

Ajay Sabherwal

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Ajay Sabherwal joined FairPoint in July 2010 and is responsible for the company's financial reporting and control, investor relations, treasury and risk management.  Sabherwal began his telecommunications career in 1989 in Canada with CNCP Telecommunications (predecessor company of AT&T Canada) where he was a senior manager of business planning.  In the 1990s he was a leading Canadian telecommunications equity analyst with Deacon Barclays deZoete Wedd and then Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.  In 1999 he was named chief financial officer at Choice One Communications in Rochester, New York.  Sabherwal went on to serve as CFO at Aventine Renewable Energy and Mendel Biotechnology.  He holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and a master's degree in economics from the Birla Institute of Technology & Science in India. He also earned a Master in Business Administration degree from Manchester Business School in Manchester, UK.

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.