Qwest COO Thomas Richards takes top posts at CDW

Thomas Richards has been named president and COO at government, education and business technology provider CDW Corp.

After holding the chief operating officer job at Qwest Communications International Inc. for a year, Thomas Richards has been named president and COO at government, education and business technology provider CDW Inc.

Richards, who also will join CDW’s executive committee, will oversee sales, advanced technology services, marketing, product and partner management, and e-commerce.

Replacing him at Qwest is Teresa Taylor, the company’s chief administrative officer. As CAO, Taylor led Qwest’s business markets and wholesale and product groups.

Company President Edward Mueller also credits her with leading Qwest’s recent negotiations with the Communications Workers of America and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers unions.

Christopher Ancell, currently a vice president of sales for Qwest’s business markets group, takes over for Taylor.

Qwest Communications, of Denver, ranks No. 55 on Washington Technology’s 2009 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors. CDW Inc. is the parent company of CDW Government. The unit ranks No. 60 on the 2009 list