Lumos’ CEO set to retire following transformative fiber growth period

Brian Stading, Lumos’ CEO, plans to retire at the end of the first quarter after driving the service through an aggressive transition into a fiber-centric broadband provider.

Since joining Lumos in 2022, Stading has led the expansion of fiber broadband access across numerous communities, overseeing nearly 700,000 new home passings and expanding the company’s footprint from two states to ten across the Midwest and Eastern U.S.

During Stading’s tenure, Lumos was acquired by T-Mobile Fiber Home Internet in 2025 as part of a joint venture with EQT.    

This deal is significant because it puts Lumos on the larger T-Mobile brand stage and creates a path for further fiber growth. The joint venture combines T-Mobile's assets with EQT’s fiber infrastructure expertise and Lumos’ fiber build capabilities to drive rapid network expansion, aiming to reach 3.5 million homes by the end of 2028. To fuel this growth, T-Mobile invested $950 million in the joint venture, with an additional $500 million planned for 2027-2028 to support further expansion.

“Working here at Lumos has been the highlight of my career – a true honor from the very beginning,” Stading said in a release. “It has been my privilege to be part of this journey, and I’m proud of what this team has accomplished together."

Enhancing leadership ranks

As Lumos looks to expand its fiber broadband footprint, the company has made several leadership promotions.  

David Smith, a 13-year Lumos veteran, has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer (COO). During his tenure, Smith has played a key role in the company’s evolution from being a traditional independent ILEC to a fiber-focused service provider with an emphasis on expanding into new markets across the Midwest.

Lumos also promoted Josh Many to Chief Network Officer (CNO). In this role, Many will oversee engineering, planning, construction, and field operations, ensuring Lumos’s network continues to scale safely, efficiently, and reliably in support of the company’s long-term growth objectives and its partnership with T-Mobile. Through his leadership, Lumos has accelerated its network build and market expansion, reaching about 50,000 passings per month.

“These promotions reflect the continued evolution of our leadership structure as Lumos scales,” the company said in a release announcing the promotions. “David and Josh bring proven leadership, deep operational expertise, and a shared commitment to our mission, ensuring we have the capabilities in place to support sustained growth and long-term success.”

Fiber growth focus

With T-Mobile as Lumos’ owner, the service provider continues to expand its fiber network reach from two states to 10.

While Lumos has not announced any new expansion communities yet, throughout 2025, Lumos expanded its fiber presence in parts of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and South Carolina. 

The impact of Lumos’ movement on these communities is far-reaching.

Beyond offering broadband packages starting at $55/month for 500 Mbps with Fiber AutoPay and a T-Mobile voice line, Lumos’ presence in these new communities underscores the importance of a competitive fiber-based broadband provider.

Community leaders in communities like Naperville, Illinois, and Charleston praised Lumos’ entry into their markets as an enabler for residents and businesses.

Naperville, Illinois, Mayor Scott Wehrli noted that Lumos’ expansion will support its growing teleworking community. “Over 25% of our residents work from home, including in down-to-the-millisecond industries where this level of connectivity is a must-have,” he said.

A similar sentiment was heard in Charleston, SC.

“Expanding access to fast, reliable fiber internet is more than just a technology upgrade—it opens doors for local businesses, enables remote work and education, and supports the long-term growth of our community,” said Kevin Sheilley, President and CEO of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce.

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