Laurel Buckner, formerly vice-president of corporate venture investments and mergers and acquisitions at US-based telecommunications operator GCI Communications, was hired by peer ATN International earlier this month.
As senior vice-president at ATN, Buckner will be managing director of its new corporate venturing unit, ATN Ventures.
ATN operates telecoms services in remote areas of the US and Caribbean as well as solar energy units for municipalities in the US and India. Buckner said ATN Ventures would be looking for deals in these areas, particular around software and renewable energy storage.
Buckner had previously set up the corporate venture department group at GCI, Alaska’s largest telecoms provider, at the beginning of 2014. Her move from GCI followed its acquisition by Liberty Interactive for $1.1bn earlier this year.
For more on her GCI experience see http://www.globalcorporateventuring.com/unique-geography-throws-up-varied-challenges