Verizon Appoints Andrea L. Custis to Lead Sales and Marketing
For Company's Internet and Broadband Services

    NEW YORK, March 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon has appointed Andrea L. Custis as group president - sales and marketing for the company's Advanced Services group.  
    (Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020307/NYTH022)
    "Andrea's diverse background and commitment to quality make her an outstanding choice for this position," said Keiko Harvey, senior vice president - Verizon Advanced Services.
    "Since continuous improvements in customer service, along with compelling marketing and sales initiatives, have been key to our strong customer growth, Andrea's experience in operations, sales and marketing is a valuable asset to Advanced Services and out customers," Harvey said.
    Based in New York City, Custis reports to Harvey and has responsibility for leading the sales, marketing and customer service strategy for Verizon's Internet and broadband services businesses.  These businesses offer dial-up and digital subscriber line (DSL) Internet access services to businesses and consumers and wholesale DSL service to more than 400 Internet service providers.  Verizon has more than 1.2 million DSL high-speed Internet access lines in service in 31 states and the District of Columbia.
    On March 21, Custis will be recognized by The Network Journal, a black professionals and small-business magazine, as one of "25 Influential Black Women in Business."
    Custis replaces Veronica Pellizzi, who has been named senior vice president - sales for Verizon's Enterprise Solutions group.  Custis had been vice president - premium segment for Enterprise Solutions since May 2001.  In that position, she planned and implemented the strategic direction of the Verizon organization that delivers voice, video, data and Internet-related services to large businesses.   She was responsible for all aspects of service delivery, such as installation, maintenance, service and project management, and call center productivity.

    Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services.  Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States, with 132.1 million access line equivalents and 29.4 million wireless customers.  Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world.  A Fortune 10 company with more than $67 billion in annual revenues and approximately 247,000 employees, Verizon's global presence extends to more than 40 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific.  For more information on Verizon, visit http://www.verizon.com.

    ON THE INTERNET: Verizon news releases, executive speeches, biographies, media contacts and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at http://www.verizon.com/news.  To receive news releases by e-mail, visit the News Center and register for personalized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.

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SOURCE  Verizon Communications
    -0-                              03/07/2002
    /CONTACT:  Bobbi Henson of Verizon Communications, +1-972-718-2225, bobbi.henson@verizon.com/
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    (VZ)
Verizon News Release, page 2