Payne leaves Qwest

Longtime telecom player James Payne has left Qwest Communications International Inc., where he headed the Denver company's federal government business.

A company spokesman did not return phone calls, but other sources confirmed Payne has left. Payne also did not return phone calls.

Payne's departure from Qwest is a risky move for the company as it pursues the huge Networx telecommunications contract, but how risky "depends on who they replace him with," one source said.

Payne joined Qwest in 1999 after working for 13 years for rival telecom company Sprint Co. of Westwood, Kan. As senior vice president of Qwest government services division, Payne directed the company's sales and marketing efforts in the federal market. Major customers include the General Services Administration and the Energy and Treasury departments.

Qwest is ranked No. 55 on Washington Technology's 2005 Top 100 list of the largest government IT contractors.