FirstLight, a leading provider of fiber-optic data, Internet, data center, cloud and voice services to enterprise and carrier customers throughout the Northeast, announced today a series of leadership changes designed to support FirstLight’s next phase of growth.  These changes follow the Company’s previous announcement related to a change of ownership to Antin Infrastructure Partners.

Sean Socha is appointed Chief Financial Officer which includes all finance administration and corporate development functions in addition to oversight of the Advanced Technologies Group. Mr. Socha has over 25 years of telecom and financial management experience, having served as Chief Financial Officer for two predecessor companies to FirstLight – Finger Lakes Technology Group and Tech Valley Communications. He most recently served as Executive Vice President of Corporate Development for FirstLight.

Scott Gilbert has assumed additional responsibilities and is now FirstLight’s Chief Information Officer and General Manager. In this role, Mr. Gilbert will continue to have responsibility for the IS/IT, Billing Operations and Data Integrity functions, and he will assume responsibility for Network Service Delivery, Customer Service and Training and Data Center Operations.

In addition, the Company announced that:

  • Bruce Skellie has been appointed Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer. Mr. Skellie will be responsible for all day-to-day Accounting and Finance operations as well as provide oversight to the Company’s ILEC in Maine.
  • Brandon Peyton has been appointed Chief Network Officer. In this role, Mr. Peyton will continue to have responsibility for the IP and Core Network Engineering functions and will assume responsibility for Core Operations, Outside Plant Engineering & Construction, and Project Management.
  • Paul Griswold, formerly Executive Vice President of Advanced Technologies, will now serve as Senior Advisor to FirstLight focusing on business development activities on behalf of the organization.

“I am pleased to announce these recent changes to the organization and feel that FirstLight is well positioned to continue its strong growth trajectory.  I am a firm believer in providing additional opportunities to employees that demonstrate leadership and longstanding contributions to the organization’s success.  I am grateful that we had such talented employees capable and willing to assume additional responsibilities,” said Kurt Van Wagenen, President and Chief Executive Officer.  “With this team in place, I know that FirstLight will continue to provide the complete portfolio of services, backed by outstanding service and support, that our customers demand.”