Frost & Sullivan names Edward E. Whitacre Jr., Chairman and CEO of AT&T, as the 2006 CEO of the Year.

Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company, yesterday announced that Edward E. Whitacre Jr., Chairman and CEO of AT&T Inc., has been named the 2006 CEO of the Year.

According to Frost & Sullivan, for his market foresight, business understanding and overall performance as Chairman and CEO of SBC and the ability to move goals to reality, culminating a general philosophy into the reality of the acquisition of AT&T, Mr. Whitacre is most deserving of Frost & Sullivan's CEO of the Year Award.

This Frost & Sullivan award is bestowed each year upon the CEO/Executive who demonstrates leadership excellence within his/her industry. The award recipient also distinguishes himself/herself from competitors by pursuing a unique restructuring, organizational management reengineering, or competitive roadmap that results in propelling or sustaining the company's market position.

"Few CEOs have had to deal with the breadth and depth of market challenges as Mr. Whitacre has during his time as Chairman and CEO of SBC, now AT&T," states Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Paul Waadevig. "SBC has outperformed and, in many ways, outclassed other former regional Bell operating companies."