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AT&T Inc., Dallas, TX: IR Executive

Gold Stevie Award Winner 2012, Click to Enter The 2014 American Business Awards

Company: AT&T Inc., Dallas, TX
Entry Submitted By: FleishmanHillard
Company Description: AT&T Inc. is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. AT&T’s operating companies are the providers of AT&T services in the USA and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s most reliable 4G LTE network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services.
Nomination Category: Corporate Communications, Investor Relations, & Public Relations Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Communications, Investor Relations, or PR Executive of the Year

Nomination Title: Susan Johnson, Senior VP - Investor Relations

Tell the story about this nominated campaign since January 1 2013 (up to 525 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:

From telling Wall Street about AT&T’s new strategic growth plan to being the coolest math mom on the block, Susan Johnson, Senior Vice President Investor Relations, AT&T Services, Inc. is the IR executive of the year. She is responsible for designing and communicating consistent investment messaging for existing and potential investors in AT&T.

In late 2012, AT&T launched Project Velocity IP (VIP), a multi-billion dollar investment plan to expand and enhance its wireless and wireline IP broadband networks. AT&T has invested more in the U.S. over the last five years than any other public company — and total investment including capex and spectrum and wireless acquisitions is more than $140 billion from 2008 to 2013. Project VIP is intended to give more people access to high quality, fast wireless and wired services, and to position AT&T for future growth. Susan and her team were tasked with helping investors understand how AT&T’s plan to expand the company’s IP networks is expected to support revenue and earnings per share growth in the longer term.

In addition to investing in Project VIP, AT&T closed more than 60 spectrum-focused acquisitions in 2013 and executed a number of deals to give the company additional financial flexibility in addition to our already-strong cash flows. These transactions included executing a $4.8 billion deal to lease rights to approximately 9,000, and sell another 600, AT&T cellular towers and announcing a plan to divest AT&T’s legacy wireline operations in Connecticut for $2 billion.

While these deals were strategically important, Susan and her team understood that any new investment plan or transaction could be perceived as risky. So they worked tirelessly to position AT&T’s moves within a strategic framework. To do this, in 2013, they participated in 1,400+ face-to-face meetings with buy side investors on three continents and in nine countries. This accessibility is a key reason the investment community considers the AT&T Investor Relations Team one of the most accessible.

The efforts of Susan and her team were even more important in the face of high competition in the wireless industry. In part due to their efforts, AT&T’s stock has outperformed the DJIA by 6% year to date (as of April 22, 2014).

In addition to heading up the IR efforts for AT&T, Susan is also active within AT&T by leading a mentoring group of young professionals, sponsoring AT&T’s 2,372 -member Women In Finance organization and leading a regular internal webcast series to help educate employees on Wall Street’s view of AT&T.

Susan began her career as one of very few women working in investment banking. She recently shared her insights as a math “nerd” on Huffington Post’s “Impact X” blog, to help young women understand the importance of math education and the career opportunities it opens.

For her tireless work to educate the investment community, to her commitment to mentoring rising professionals and young women, Susan Johnson has earned the right to be recognized as the IR Executive of the Year.

Note: AT&T Inc., a premier communications holding company. 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.

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Provide a brief (up to 125 words) biography about the leader(s) of the team that carried out this campaign:

Susan Johnson was appointed AT&T’s SVP of Investor Relations in 2012. Ms. Johnson and her team represent AT&T to the investment community. She is responsible for designing and communicating consistent investment messaging for new and existing investors.

Ms. Johnson joined the AT&T portfolio of companies in 1994 and has led Corporate Strategy and served as SVP of Business Development, where she developed new revenue opportunities in emerging technologies, and as SVP of Customer Information Services.

Ms. Johnson began her career at Smith Barney, Inc., where she provided financial advisory services, directed companies through initial public offerings and advised clients on mergers and acquisitions.

Ms. Johnson holds a B.A. in economics from Northwestern University and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

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