Business to Business Magazine Names BellSouth Chairman and CEO Duane Ackerman CEO of the Year

ATLANTA, Jan. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Recognizing his leadership during a year of rapid change in the communications marketplace, Business to Business magazine will name BellSouth (NYSE: BLS) Chairman and CEO Duane Ackerman their CEO of the Year at the magazine's annual awards gala to be held the evening of Jan. 26.

"I am honored that Business to Business magazine has selected me as their CEO of the Year," said Ackerman. "I feel that the true winners are the employees who have transformed BellSouth into a wireless and broadband services company while continuing to deliver on our reputation as a customer service leader.

"Their customer focus did not waver during a year that saw unprecedented tropical storm activity, increased competition, industry consolidation and the rapid deployment of new communications technologies."

In selecting Ackerman as their CEO of the Year, Business to Business magazine cited his leadership and community involvement. He is the chairman of the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Council, advising the President on communications security issues, and is the immediate past chairman of the national Council on Competitiveness. He is also a member of The Allstate Corporation's board of directors, a trustee at his alma mater Rollins College, and a former member of the board of governors for the Society of Sloan Fellows of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

About BellSouth Corporation

BellSouth Corporation is a Fortune 100 communications company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. BellSouth has joint control and 40 percent ownership of Cingular Wireless, the nation's largest wireless voice and data provider with 54.1 million customers.

Backed by award-winning customer service, BellSouth offers the most comprehensive and innovative package of voice and data services available in the market. Through BellSouth Answers(R), residential and small business customers can bundle their local and long distance service with dial-up and high-speed DSL Internet access, satellite television and Cingular(R) Wireless service. For businesses, BellSouth provides secure, reliable local and long distance voice and data networking solutions. BellSouth also offers print and online directory advertising through The Real Yellow Pages(R) and YELLOWPAGES.COM(TM) from BellSouth.

BellSouth believes that diversity and fostering an inclusive environment are critical in maintaining a competitive advantage in today's global marketplace. More information about BellSouth can be found at http://www.bellsouth.com/.

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