TDS Telecom Announces Senior Leadership Change
MADISON, Wis. — TDS Telecommunications LLC (TDS®), a Madison, Wisconsin-based communications company, is announcing a change within its senior leadership team.
Senior Vice President of Network Services Shane West will become Chief Operating Officer (COO) at the end of the year, replacing current COO Mark Barber who is retiring from TDS. Barber has held this position since 2021 and will begin transferring his duties to West this fall.
“Mark has been a steadfast leader who has made an incredible impact on our organization,” said President and CEO Jim Butman. “He’s a talented leader who can bring people with opposing views together to find workable solutions.”
Barber is leaving TDS after three decades in the communications industry. He was instrumental in helping TDS acquire its first major cable company, facilitated all of TDS’ subsequent cable acquisitions, and managed the company’s fiber expansion efforts these past few years. Barber served in the Marine Corps and attended Bridgewater College (Virginia) and James Madison University (Virginia).
“I’m pleased to have Shane take on this new role and his strong leadership is critical for our company’s transformation,” added Butman.
West initially joined the TDS family of companies as a Marketing Financial Analyst for UScellular in 1996. Five years later, he joined TDS Telecom and has held numerous leadership positions with increasing responsibilities. During his time in marketing leadership, West oversaw the transitions within the company’s ILEC and CLEC markets as well as cable company acquisitions and TDS Fiber expansion across the country. In his current role as SVP of Network Operations, West is transforming the company’s telecom and cable operations.
West holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse.
