Lottie Ryans named CenturyTel and EMBARQ GM for Region

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn., July 14, 2009 — CenturyTel and EMBARQ have named Lottie Ryans general manager for western North Carolina and Tennessee. She will be located in Johnson City, Tenn.

Ryans will direct the performance of the CenturyTel and EMBARQ combined company throughout western North Carolina and Tennessee as well as manage local customer support and growth opportunities.

Ryans, a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in Business, began her career in telecommunicatoins 27 years ago. Prior to the merger, she served as director of sales and care east region for EMBARQ.

“Our priority as a new company is to serve our local customers by understanding their needs, delivering product and service innovation and preparing for the future,” said Ryans. “I’m so pleased to be leading these efforts in these markets.”

CenturyTel and EMBARQ completed their merger July 1. The company will begin operating as CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL) later this year. The combined company has an operating presence in 33 states, and approximately 7.5 million access lines, 2.1 million broadband customers and approximately 440,000 video subscribers as of March 31, 2009.