News Center

Hendrix Alumnus Named CEO of Windstream Spinoff

CONWAY, Ark. (February 13, 2015) – Hendrix alumnus Kenny Gunderman ’93 was appointed as president and chief executive officer of Windstream Holdings Inc.’s real estate investment trust, Communications Sales & Leasing Inc.

Gunderman is currently the executive vice president and co-head of investment banking for Stephens Inc. He joined Stephens Inc. in 2006 as a senior telecom banker. In February 2007, he was named co-head of investment banking, and his responsibilities were expanded to include strategic direction for the investment banking department. Prior to joining Stephens, Gunderman was a member of the telecom investment banking group at Lehman Brothers, where he advised on various transactions and financings totaling more than $125 billion. He previously worked at KPMG as a CPA and holds an MBA from Yale and a bachelor’s degree from Hendrix.

“I am excited about this appointment and eager to pursue the tremendous opportunity ahead for CS&L. I look forward to finalizing our leadership team and completing the required financing in order to expeditiously close the transaction,” said Kenny Gunderman. “I also am thankful and appreciative for my time and experiences at Stephens.”

Windstream announced plans last year to turn its copper-line and fiber-optic networks, along with other assets, into an independent, publicly traded trust. The independent company, Communications Sales & Leasing Inc., will lease the assets to Windstream through a long-term agreement.

Read more

Founded in 1876, Hendrix College is a national leader in engaged liberal arts and sciences education. This year, Hendrix was named the country’s #1 “Up and Coming” liberal arts college and #8 in the nation for “Best Undergraduate Teaching” by U.S. News and World Report.  Hendrix is featured in the 2015 Fiske Guide to Colleges, Forbes magazine's list of America's Top Colleges, the 2014 Princeton Review’s The Best 378 Colleges, and the latest edition of Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think about Colleges. Hendrix has been affiliated with the United Methodist Church since 1884. For more information, visit www.hendrix.edu