AT&T Appoints Debbie Storey Chief Diversity Officer and SVP Talent Development

DALLAS, June 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* announced today the appointment of Debbie Storey as senior vice president-talent development and chief diversity officer.  In her new role, Storey will be responsible for leading the company's award-winning efforts to foster an inclusive workforce and develop its diverse talent to meet the business needs of the 21st century.

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"At AT&T, diversity at every level of our company is a key to our success. It helps spark innovation, elevate customer care and strengthen connections to the communities we serve," said Bill Blase, AT&T senior executive vice president, human resources.  "We look forward to Debbie's leadership to ensure that AT&T continues to be one of the most respected companies in America for its inclusive workforce and business practices."

"I am honored to be named to this important post," said Storey.  "I am proud of AT&T's commitment to diversity and to talent development, and I look forward to building on our longstanding reputation as a leader in these critical areas."

AT&T's four-pronged approach to diversity -- talent development, multicultural marketing, community support and supplier diversity – has been widely recognized.  It has ranked consistently in the DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity® list and, in 2010, it was named Corporation of the Year by the National Minority Supplier Development Council.  In addition, Chief Learning Officer magazine this year named AT&T No. 1 in its inaugural "LearningElite" benchmarking and recognition program, and best in corporate America at aligning learning and development with business results.

Storey brings extensive leadership and telecommunications experience to the position.  In her most recent assignment as senior vice president-centers support, she was responsible for sales and operations support for all AT&T consumer call centers as well as self-service and online operations.  Previously, she was AT&T vice president for consumer sales.

Storey played a key role during the merger of AT&T with BellSouth in 2006.  As vice president of merger integration for BellSouth, she developed plans for the merged organizational and operational structure as well as the execution strategy.  Earlier, as BellSouth vice president of broadband transformation, she led the evolution of BellSouth's internet operation from voice to broadband services.

While at BellSouth she served as president of the BellSouth Women's Networking Alliance, one of the company's employee resource groups (ERG). With the merger of AT&T and BellSouth, that organization became Women at AT&T, with Storey continuing to serve as an executive advisor.  Women at AT&T is one of the company's 10 ERGs, which provide mentoring, networking and development opportunities for about 12,000 members combined.  ERG membership at AT&T is open to all employees.

Storey started her career with AT&T in 1982 in Atlanta as customer service clerk for BellSouth telephone directory publisher Stevens Graphics.

Storey earned a B.A. in Psychology and Criminal Justice from the University of Georgia and an executive MBA from the Terry School of Business at the University of Georgia.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T | DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising.

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SOURCE AT&T Inc.