Amidst the tumult, Qwest’s board appointed Notebaert as its chairman and CEO. A number of people doubted Notebaert had the chutzpah to turn Qwest around, but he has done just that. The company posted $194 million in profits for the fourth quarter of 2006 and nearly tripled its net income in the first quarter of 2007.

    Notebaert departs Qwest likely feeling he has done what he set out to do, Jaegers told PHONE+ in June. Qwest’s balance sheets are repaired (the company in 2006 was profitable for the first time) and Standard & Poor’s now rates Qwest as investment-grade. “I think he feels like his work in fixing up the company is complete.”