Princeton, N.J. (March 17, 2026) — Astound, a recognized leader in WiFi, mobile, TV, and fiber‑optic solutions, today announced that Ettienne Brandt has joined the company as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Brandt will lead Astound as it continues to execute on its ambitious network expansion and as it prepares for a planned combination with GFiber (formerly Google Fiber), following an agreement announced March 11 to combine the two companies and create the largest independent fiber based broadband provider in the country.
Brandt brings more than 25 years of experience in the telecommunications industry across multiple scaled wireless and broadband platforms. He most recently served as Executive Vice President, Commercial at Frontier Communications, where he was a key senior executive in the company’s successful transformation, ultimately leading to Frontier’s $20 billion sale to Verizon.
“Astound has built an enviable combination of powerful fiber infrastructure and a strong heritage of delivering superior service to both residential and commercial customers across the U.S.,” said Brandt. “I’m excited to lead the company as we prepare for the next chapter, working alongside our team and our partners to expand our fiber footprint, strengthen our platform, and continue delivering a customer‑first experience for existing and future customers.”
“Ettienne brings a proven and diversified track record of industry leadership, most recently at Frontier, at an exciting moment in Astound’s history,” said Andrew Thomas, Senior Managing Director and Richard Brode, Managing Director at Stonepeak. “He is a forward‑thinking leader who knows how to energize and scale organizations, deliver exceptional customer service and drive long‑term growth.”
Prior to Frontier, Brandt has worked for various telecommunications providers including British Telecom, EE, Orange & ntl (now Virgin Media) and has vast experience in the Consumer and Commercial segments within wireless and wireline.
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About Astound
Astound (astound.com) is a trusted provider of internet, Wi-Fi, mobile, TV services, landline phone and fiber-optic solutions, known for innovation, reliability, and award-winning customer care. With a focus on flexibility, value, and community, Astound delivers modern connectivity solutions to both residential and business customers designed for how people live and work today. Astound serves Texas, Chicago, Indiana, Eastern Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York City, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and regions throughout California, Oregon, and Washington.
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