Longtime cable executive Dale Bennett, Suddenlink Communications’ regional vice president for the Central Region, will retire at year’s end, the company said.
Bennett started his cable career in 1978 as chief operating officer of Columbia Communications and joined Suddenlink in 2003 after the cable company (then called Cequel III) had reached an agreement to manage Tyler, Texas-based Classic Communications.
Classic was purchased in 2003 by a group of investors led by Oaktree Capital Management. Bennett had run the Classic systems before the purchase.
In a memo to employees announcing Bennett’s decision, Suddenlink executive vice president and chief operating officer Tom McMillin said that Bennett will “ease into” retirement beginning Aug. 1.
Pat O’Connor, vice president of operations for the West Region, will be promoted to regional vice president, taking on Bennett’s responsibilities for the Central Region effective on that date. O’Connor has more than 15 years experience in the cable industry with Cox Communications in Cleveland and Lubbock, Texas before joining Suddenlink.
