Qwest picks new Montana president

Telecommunications giant Qwest announced Monday it has chosen David H. Gibson, formerly an associate commissioner for the Montana University System, as the company's new Montana president.

Gibson will take over for Rick Hays, who retired in November after more than 30 years with Qwest and its predecessor companies.

It used to be common for corporations to fill top-level positions with talent from outside the state, but today's changing business climate means leaders who understand the local community are critical. Gibson's ties to Montana made him a standout candidate for the job, Hays said via telephone from his home in Helena.

Gibson was raised in Kalispell and holds a bachelor's degree in applied mathematics from Harvard University and a master's in finance and operations from Dartmouth College's Tuck School of Business.

He served as a captain in the U.S. Army Rangers and then began his business career with Frito-Lay. His background includes a senior executive position with international forest products company Weyerhaeuser and a stint as Montana's first chief business development officer.

Until he accepted the Qwest Montana presidency, Gibson was an associate commissioner of technology, research and communications for the Montana University System. His old post has been filled by Cathy Conover, Montana State University's chief spokesperson and lobbyist, who will retain her position with MSU during her six-month term of service.

Gibson's background gave him experience in finance, marketing, working with diverse employees and studying the community landscape, he said. His first task as president will be getting to know his customers and the employees who make up the face of the company.

"I've got a steep learning curve ahead of me," he said.

Gibson will likely find that one of his greatest challenges will be staying on the cutting edge of technology, Hays said. Telecommunications services, from high-speed Internet access to movies, are constantly changing, and customers are demanding updated and improved services as quickly as they're invented.

"We had to change our service and activities so we could provide these instantaneous as well," Hays said. "It's an exciting time - if you like change."

Hays does, and that's one of the reasons he enjoyed his job as Qwest Montana president so much, he said. He began working with Qwest in the 1970s as a public information manager in Greeley, Colo. He held a variety of posts within the company in a number of locations, including Tucson, Denver and Boise, before moving to Helena in 1996.

Hays said he plans to remain in Helena with his family and enjoy retirement while continuing to be involved in local boards and organizations.

Gibson is also facing a full calendar, including working with policymakers during the 2007 Legislature. He must also oversee the company's marketing and promotional activities, and coordinate Qwest employees border to border. He now leads a company that employs 360 workers and serves about 320,000 customers in Montana.

"He'll be plenty busy," Hays said.