Sowmyanarayan Sampath- CEO of Zayo and a Leader in AI-Driven Digital Infrastructure

Sowmyanarayan Sampath is the chief executive officer of Zayo, one of North America's largest independent digital infrastructure providers. He assumed the role on September 1, 2026, bringing more than two decades of experience in telecommunications, enterprise technology, consulting, and business transformation.

Before joining Zayo, Sampath held several senior leadership positions at Verizon, including CEO of Verizon Consumer and CEO of Verizon Business. He also spent nearly a decade at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he became a partner and managing director and led its Global Communications Practice.

At Zayo, Sampath is leading a business positioned at the center of growing demand for fiber connectivity, data center infrastructure, and high-capacity networks. As artificial intelligence expands the need for computing power and data transmission, his challenge is to scale Zayo's network and commercial operations to support the next generation of digital infrastructure. 

Who Is Sowmyanarayan Sampath?

Sowmyanarayan Sampath is an international business executive with a background in telecommunications, enterprise services, digital transformation, and corporate strategy. His career has combined consulting experience with leadership responsibility for some of the largest business units in the U.S. telecommunications industry.

He became CEO of Zayo on September 1, 2026, succeeding Steve Smith, who retired from the position and remained on the company's board of directors.

Zayo appointed Sampath to lead its next phase of growth, particularly as AI workloads, cloud computing, and enterprise digital transformation increase demand for reliable, high-capacity network infrastructure. The company highlighted his experience managing large businesses, scaling complex networks, and driving enterprise revenue as important reasons for his appointment. 

Education and Early Career

Sampath earned a Bachelor of Commerce from St. Xavier's College at the University of Calcutta. He is also a Chartered Accountant through the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and holds an MBA in Strategy and Policy from Boston University's Questrom School of Business.

His early professional experience included consulting roles at KPMG and ADVENTIS Corporation. These positions helped establish his background in business analysis, financial strategy, and corporate advisory work.

In 2005, he joined Boston Consulting Group, where he spent nearly a decade advising telecommunications and technology companies on business strategy, operational improvement, and transformation. 

Career at Boston Consulting Group

At BCG, Sampath advanced to partner and managing director and became a global sector leader for the firm's communications practice.

He advised major telecommunications companies on strategy and business transformation, working across international markets. According to Zayo's executive biography, he led BCG's Global Communications Practice and advised eight of the world's ten largest telecommunications carriers across more than 25 countries.

His consulting experience also included advising Apple on the commercial model for its entry into the mobile phone market.

This period gave Sampath a broad view of the telecommunications industry, including the relationship between network investment, technology development, customer demand, and commercial strategy. It also prepared him for the operational responsibilities he would later assume at Verizon. 

Building a Leadership Career at Verizon

Sampath joined Verizon in 2014 and spent more than a decade with the telecommunications company. During that period, he held leadership roles across product development, business transformation, media, enterprise services, and consumer operations.

Chief Product Officer and Business Transformation

Sampath initially held senior positions focused on business transformation and product leadership. As Verizon's Chief Product Officer, he worked on the company's product strategy and the development of services for consumer and business customers.

These roles involved coordinating technology, commercial strategy, and customer requirements in a highly competitive telecommunications market.

Verizon Media

Sampath later held financial and transformation responsibilities within Verizon Media, overseeing a portfolio that included Yahoo, AOL, and HuffPost.

Zayo's biography credits him with helping reverse a significant revenue decline in the media business and reducing costs by approximately $500 million before the portfolio was positioned for sale.

The experience added corporate restructuring and portfolio management to his leadership background. 

President of Global Enterprise

Sampath subsequently became president of Verizon Global Enterprise, leading a business with more than $12 billion in revenue.

The division served major multinational customers, including 99% of the Fortune 500, across more than 120 countries. Its services covered enterprise networking and communications solutions for organizations operating across multiple markets.

This position gave him direct experience managing complex customer relationships and large-scale connectivity requirements—the same broad market that Zayo serves through its fiber and network infrastructure. 

CEO of Verizon Business

In 2022, Sampath became CEO of Verizon Business, overseeing a business with approximately $32 billion in annual revenue and five business units.

The division served enterprise and government customers with services spanning wireless connectivity, networking, communications, and digital solutions.

During his leadership, Verizon reported six consecutive quarters of industry-leading wireless revenue growth, according to his Zayo executive biography.

His experience running Verizon Business became an important part of his preparation for leading Zayo, where enterprise connectivity and network performance are central to the company's commercial strategy. 

CEO of Verizon Consumer

In March 2023, Sampath became CEO of Verizon Consumer, one of the company's largest business units.

The division served a broad U.S. customer base through wireless and broadband services, retail operations, and multiple consumer brands. Zayo's executive biography describes the business as generating approximately $104 billion in revenue, with around 130,000 employees and more than 8,000 retail stores.

One of the most significant strategic projects during this period was Verizon's planned $20 billion acquisition of Frontier Communications. Sampath helped lead the transaction from due diligence through regulatory approval and integration planning.

He remained in the role until early 2026, when he left Verizon. His departure followed a leadership transition at the company and preceded his appointment as Zayo's next CEO. 

Sowmyanarayan Sampath as CEO of Zayo

Zayo operates the fiber and digital network infrastructure that connects data centers, businesses, telecommunications carriers, cloud providers, and other organizations.

Its network supports the movement of data across cities, regions, and international markets. The company offers solutions including:

• Dark fiber: Dedicated fiber infrastructure that customers can use to build and manage their own networks.

• Wavelength services: High-capacity optical connections for organizations moving large volumes of data.

• Ethernet and IP connectivity: Network services that connect business locations, data centers, and cloud environments.

• Data center connectivity: Fiber connections between data centers and other critical digital infrastructure.

• Dedicated internet access: Business-grade internet connectivity for organizations requiring reliable network performance.

• Managed network services: Solutions that help customers operate and manage complex connectivity environments.

Zayo describes its network as spanning approximately 32 million fiber miles and 224,000 route miles across North America, connecting more than 400 markets globally. The company also reports connections to more than 1,900 data centers worldwide. 

Why AI Infrastructure Matters to Zayo

Artificial intelligence is increasing demand for data center capacity, high-performance computing, and fast connections between geographically distributed facilities.

AI systems require substantial computing resources, but those resources also depend on networks capable of moving large amounts of data between data centers, GPU clusters, cloud platforms, and enterprise locations.

This creates an opportunity for companies such as Zayo. Its fiber infrastructure provides the physical connectivity required to support AI development and deployment at scale.

Sampath has made this relationship central to his vision for the company. In his appointment announcement, he highlighted the growing requirements of AI workloads, distributed applications, dense GPU clusters, and hyperscale environments.

He has argued that network capacity is becoming a major constraint on AI expansion and that Zayo's infrastructure gives the company an opportunity to support the growing connectivity needs of AI companies and large enterprises. 

Strategic Priorities Under Sampath's Leadership

Sampath's appointment signals Zayo's intention to build on its existing network position and expand its role in the AI-driven digital economy.

Several priorities stand out.

1. Expanding Fiber Infrastructure

AI data centers and cloud facilities require high-capacity connections. Zayo is investing in additional long-haul and metro fiber routes to connect important technology and business markets.

The company has announced plans to add more than 15,000 route miles through 2030. Sampath's experience managing large-scale enterprise and telecommunications businesses will be relevant to executing this expansion. 

2. Serving AI Companies and Hyperscale Customers

Large AI developers and cloud providers need reliable, scalable network connections between computing facilities.

Zayo is positioning its infrastructure to serve these customers as AI investment increases. In August 2026, the company announced a collaboration with NVIDIA focused on expanding network capacity for AI infrastructure, including new long-haul fiber construction. 

3. Strengthening Enterprise Connectivity

Beyond AI companies, Zayo serves large businesses that need secure, reliable connections between offices, data centers, cloud environments, and other locations.

Sampath's previous leadership of Verizon Business and Global Enterprise gives him direct experience with the requirements of large multinational customers.

His background may help Zayo strengthen its enterprise relationships and develop services that address increasingly complex networking needs.

4. Advancing Software-Defined and AI-Enabled Networking

Network infrastructure is increasingly managed through software platforms that allow customers to provision, monitor, and adjust connectivity.

In September 2026, Zayo launched Agentic Networking for its DynamicLink platform. The offering combines network infrastructure and an MCP server to allow approved AI agents to understand network context and carry out authorized network actions.

This development illustrates how Zayo is expanding beyond traditional fiber connectivity toward more automated and software-driven network services. 

Leadership Philosophy: Kindness, Ownership, and Execution

Sampath's leadership approach combines commercial discipline with an emphasis on people and organizational culture.

Zayo describes him as a leader who values kindness and humility, builds teams with strong talent, and gives people ownership over decisions. His approach emphasizes setting high standards while creating an environment where employees can take responsibility and lead.

His career also demonstrates an interest in balancing strategy with practical execution. At BCG, he advised major telecommunications companies on long-term business decisions. At Verizon, he was responsible for delivering results across large operating businesses with complex customer and technology requirements.

At Zayo, these experiences come together. The company needs to make substantial infrastructure investments while responding quickly to customer demand and technological change. Sampath's ability to connect strategic planning with operational execution will be an important part of his leadership. 

Board Memberships and Industry Involvement

Alongside his executive career, Sampath has maintained involvement in corporate governance, education, and media organizations.

His board and advisory activities include:

• Canadian Tire Corporation: Member of the board of directors, serving on its Audit and Transformation Committees.

• The Paley Center for Media: Trustee.

• Smithsonian Institution: Member of its Education Working Group.

• TechUnited: Board member.

In October 2026, Boston University's Mehrotra Institute for Business, Markets & Society also announced Sampath's appointment to its board. 

Key Facts About Sowmyanarayan Sampath

Detail	Information
Full name	Sowmyanarayan Sampath
Current position	Chief Executive Officer of Zayo
CEO since	September 1, 2026
Industry	Telecommunications and digital infrastructure
Previous company	Verizon
Previous roles	CEO of Verizon Consumer; CEO of Verizon Business; President of Global Enterprise
Consulting background	Partner and Managing Director, Boston Consulting Group
Undergraduate education	Bachelor of Commerce, St. Xavier's College, University of Calcutta
Professional qualification	Chartered Accountant, Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
Graduate education	MBA in Strategy and Policy, Boston University
Board memberships	Canadian Tire Corporation, among other organizations

 

Why Sowmyanarayan Sampath Matters in the Digital Infrastructure Industry

Sowmyanarayan Sampath leads Zayo at a time when digital infrastructure is becoming increasingly important to the global economy.

AI, cloud computing, data centers, and enterprise digital transformation all depend on networks that can move growing volumes of data quickly and reliably. While much of the public discussion around AI focuses on software, models, and computing hardware, the fiber networks connecting these systems are equally important.

Sampath's experience at Verizon and Boston Consulting Group gives him a combination of telecommunications expertise, enterprise customer knowledge, and large-scale business leadership.

His challenge at Zayo is to turn that experience into continued network expansion, stronger customer relationships, and sustainable business growth. As demand for AI infrastructure accelerates, his leadership will help determine how effectively Zayo can capitalize on the opportunity.

About Zayo

Zayo is a digital infrastructure company that builds and operates fiber networks and connectivity services across North America and international markets. Its infrastructure connects data centers, cloud providers, telecommunications carriers, enterprises, schools, and government organizations.

The company's services include dark fiber, wavelengths, Ethernet, dedicated internet access, data center connectivity, and managed network solutions.