The Carlyle Group Names Michael Ruley Chief Executive Officer of Hawaiian Telcom; Experienced Telecom Exec to Lead Management Team at Verizon Hawaii

Honolulu, HI – Global private equity firm The Carlyle Group today named Michael Ruley Chief Executive Officer of Hawaiian Telcom. Mr. Ruley, a seasoned telecommunications executive, will augment the existing management team at Verizon Hawaii as The Carlyle Group plans to relocate all key management functions back to Hawaii from the mainland. Mr. Ruley joins Hawaiian Telcom immediately and will relocate to Hawaii.

Carlyle Managing Director William E. Kennard said, “As we return Hawaiian Telcom to its roots as a independent local telephone company, we must augment the fine leadership team at Verizon Hawaii. We are delighted that Mike Ruley will join the team. Mike is the right person to lead Hawaiian Telcom to the next level of success. Mike is a proven telecommunications Chief Executive Officer with experience in every aspect of the phone business. Mike is a winner; his experience demonstrates that he knows how to add new products, grow revenue and compete.

Mr. Ruley said, “I am very pleased to be a part of making Hawaiian Telcom America’s next great independent phone company. Together with the dedicated employees of Verizon Hawaii, we will combine technology, creativity and hard work to ensure our customers have state of the art products and superior service. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Mel Horikami, Verizon Hawaii President, said, “I look forward to working with Mike as we transform Hawaiian Telcom into a locally managed company. Our challenges are considerable, but the opportunities are great.”

Mr. Ruley comes to Hawaiian Telcom from NextiraOne, a North American voice and data solutions business, where he served as President and Chief Executive Officer since mid-2003. Mr. Ruley oversaw operations, sales, marketing, finance, legal and human resources of the company, which has 3500 employees. As Chief Executive Officer, he improved operational efficiency and fostered growth in the company, with sales greatly eclipsing prior results and operational costs improving by more than $120 million.

From 1998 to 2003, Mr. Ruley served in several senior positions at XO Communications. As President of Market Sales Operations, Mr. Ruley managed a 1500-person direct sales force and support organization, customer care and the indirect channel organization delivering nearly $1 billion in annual revenue. Service offerings included local, long-distance, Internet access, private networks, managed/shared hosting and integrated/bundled offerings. As President of the West Region, Mr. Ruley oversaw consolidation and integration of three operating regions and directly managed operations, sales, customer care, finance, legal & regulatory and engineering. As President of the Southwest Region, Mr. Ruley planned, built, launched and grew operations in the markets in the then-SBC service area and oversaw construction, staffing and management of all functions.

From 1996 to 1998, Mr. Ruley served in several senior capacities at Teleport Communications Group, a competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) that is now part of AT&T. In Colorado he managed the first CLEC that was certified to compete against U.S. West. As Regional Vice President for the Pacific, Mr. Ruley was responsible for sales in the Pacific Bell Territory.

Mr. Ruley, 44, attended the University of Kansas from 1978 to 1983. He serves on the Board of Trustees of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Lone Star Chapter.

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