CEO of Alphabet’s Access Unit Joins Adtran Board

Gregory  McCray, CEO of Alphabet Access, the unit that oversees Google Fiber, has been appointed to the board of Adtran, the Huntsville, Ala.-based network equipment and software provider.

Adtran said the addition of McCray will help the vendor as it focuses on expanding Gigabit-class broadband speeds and supporting other areas such as smart cities, the Internet of Things and software-defined networking.

In February, Alphabet has tapped Gregory McCray as CEO of its Access division, taking over a role previously held by Craig Barratt and coming on board amid a restructuring at Google Fiber and a shift in focus toward less expensive wireless-based broadband alternatives.

RELATED: Google Fiber Taps New Leader Amid Restructuring

Prior to joining Alphabet, McCray was CEO of Aero Communications, chairman and CEO of PipingHot Networks, and an exec at Lucent Technologies. He is also a former board member of CenturyLink Communications.

“Over the past decade, the telecommunications market has undergone several fundamental shifts in terms of how networks are designed, services are developed and what types of organizations deliver those services. Greg brings tremendous management and international experience that will greatly benefit our team as we look to leverage these shifts to create shareholder and organizational value,” Thomas Stanton, chairman and CEO of Adtran, said in a statement. “The pace of change in our industry has accelerated, requiring more nimble and flexible approaches as we continue to drive innovation, expand our reach and transform the way people live, work and play. I believe that this is a perfect time for someone of Greg’s vision and experience to join our board.”