CenturyLink taps Level 3 vet Morche to head enterprise, federal account teams post-merger

CenturyLink names almost two-decade Level 3 veteran Ed Morche as head of the strategic enterprise, federal and state government account teams as the close of their merger approaches.

(Editor's Note: This article and headline has been updated to clarify Ed Morche's responsibilities at CenturyLink and with comment from the company.)

CenturyLink will bring over two-decade Level 3 veteran Ed Morche to help lead the telecommunications and IT services provider's federal business upon the completion of the merger of the two companies..

Post-close, Morche will hold the title of president of CenturyLink's strategic enterprise, federal government and state government business. He will oversee large accounts at the federal and state government levels and those for large educational institutions and research networks.

Morche will officially rejoin Level 3 on July 5 and is one of five business unit presidents that will report directly to CenturyLink President and Chief Operating Officer Jeff Storey. Vernon Irwin will be the other public sector-related executive in that group as president of the small and midsize business, local government and education unit.

A CenturyLink spokesperson told Washington Technology Morche and the other unit leaders will continue the work of identifying their leadership teams.

Morche led federal sales at Level 3 as a senior vice president and general manager for three years until 2013, after which he then transitioned to SVP of East region enterprise sales for enterprise and government markets. After that, he was elevated to group VP for North American enterprise sales.

More recently, he worked one month at communications infrastructure services provider Zayo Group as president of sales. Zayo announced in June that Morche would resign to join Level 3.

First announced in October, CenturyLink expects the merger to close by Sept. 30 pending the remaining state, federal and international approvals, a company spokesperson told Washington Technology via email.