Lumen Technologies is entering a defining moment, both in its channel evolution and in its broader transformation into a digital network services leader for the AI economy. Contributing to this momentum is the appointment of Jim Ortbals as Senior Vice President of Global Partner Solutions (GPS) and Channel Chief, a move that signals a bold new chapter for Lumen’s partner ecosystem. With more than 25 years of experience scaling global partner organizations, Jim steps into the role at a time when Lumen is reshaping not only how it operates but how it collaborates with partners at the core. A New Era for Lumen’s Channel Program Jim’s appointment marks both a leadership transition and a strategic inflection point for Lumen’s channel program. As the company accelerates its evolution, the partner ecosystem is being reimagined as a primary growth engine. Lumen is shifting from a traditional telecom model to a modern, AI-ready digital network services company combining expansive physical infrastructure, a programmable digital layer and a connected ecosystem of industry-leading technology partners delivering high-value solutions that enable enterprises to move, control and orchestrate data across cloud, data center, and edge environments. This transformation elevates the role of partners from transactional sellers to strategic collaborators. Under Jim’s leadership, the channel program is expected to become more aligned, agile, and outcome-driven — designed to help partners capture new opportunities in cloud, security, and AI-powered solutions. A Pivotal Moment: Powering the AI Economy The timing of this leadership change is significant. It coincides with Lumen’s broader transformation into the trusted network for AI — a foundational platform for enterprises navigating rapid digital acceleration. As AI workloads scale, the constraint is no longer just computed; it’s the ability to move massive volumes of data quickly, securely, and predictably. In this environment, the network becomes a critical enabler of AI outcomes. Lumen’s strategy is centered on expanding its global network, scaling its digital services platform, and enabling seamless connectivity between applications, data, and infrastructure. This positions the company to support the increasing demands of AI workloads, which require high-performance, secure, and resilient networking environments. In parallel, Lumen is investing in capabilities like its AI platform, designed to accelerate how AI solutions are built, deployed, and scaled across the enterprise, reinforcing its role in enabling AI at enterprise scale. Together, these initiatives reflect a company moving decisively toward a future where the network is not just infrastructure, but a strategic enabler of intelligence, automation, and business transformation. Jim’s Vision for the Partner Ecosystem As SVP of GPS, Jim is focused on building a partner ecosystem that is simpler to engage with, more collaborative, and deeply aligned to customer outcomes. Jim’s vision is closely aligned to Lumen’s broader strategy to expand its connected ecosystem as a core growth engine — accelerating co-innovation and bringing AI-ready solutions to market faster. It centers on: • Strengthening partner alignment with Lumen’s strategic priorities, particularly in AI, security, and cloud connectivity • Expanding co-sell and co-innovation opportunities to drive joint value creation • Delivering enhanced enablement and tools that empower partners to differentiate and scale • Streamlining engagement models to reduce friction and accelerate time to revenue Ultimately, the goal is to create a partner experience that mirrors Lumen’s broader transformation: fast, flexible, and built for the future. Lumen’s partner ecosystem is at the heart of its larger transformation as it builds the digital network infrastructure to support the AI economy, where value is defined by the ability to move data instantly, securely, and at scale. With Jim Ortbals leading Global Partner Solutions, the company is doubling down on the channel as a critical lever for growth. As Lumen continues building the trusted network for AI, partners are essential to shaping what comes next. o Lumen Enters a New Chapter in Channel Leadership and AI-Driven Growth 38 CHANNELVISION | 2026 TSD DIRECTORY Lumen SVP & Channel Chief Jim Ortbals
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTg4Njc=