WRAL Tech Wire

Duke Energy CFO to take over as top executive at FairPoint Communications

David Hauser

Related Stories

• Charlotte-based FairPoint planning CEO succession
• FairPoint Communications CFO is stepping down

On The Web

• FairPoint

Site Search

David Hauser, chief financial officer at Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), is taking over as chairman and chief executive officer at FairPoint Communications (NYSE: FRP).

FairPoint, which is based in Charlotte, offers local telephone and related services in numerous markets spread across 18 states. It most recently acquired much of Verizon’s local phone business in New England.

Hauser will assume the FairPoint jobs on July 1. He is no stranger to the company, having served on its board since 2005.

Eugene Johnson, FairPoint’s current chairman and CEO, had early announced his plans to retire. He steps down July 1.

"David's past experience, financial acumen and extensive public company experience will be instrumental in successfully realizing the growth and opportunities that we envision for FairPoint," said Jane Newman, lead director at FairPoint, in a statement. "He will be passionately focused on customers and shareholders alike."

A Duke Energy employee since 1973, Hauser has been CFO since 2004.

"FairPoint is a dynamic, customer-focused organization that can and will respond to the challenges that it faces today," Hauser said in a statement. "There is no doubt in my mind that we will be successful in the markets we serve, and that our employees will continue to be the driver and backbone of that success."

Hauser, who is from High Point, received a business degree at Furman University and an MBA at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.