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Duane Ackerman is the retired chairman and chief executive officer of the BellSouth Corporation.

Mr. Ackerman began his communications career in 1964 and served in numerous capacities with BellSouth. He was named president and chief executive officer of BellSouth Telecommunications, BellSouth's local telephone service unit and largest subsidiary, in November 1992. He was promoted to vice chairman and chief operating officer of the parent company, BellSouth Corporation, on Jan. 1, 1995, then was elevated to the position of president and chief executive officer of BellSouth on Jan. 1, 1997. On Jan. 1, 1998, the Board added the chairman's responsibilities to Mr. Ackerman and he served as chairman and chief executive officer until BellSouth's merger with AT&T on December 29, 2006.

A native of Plant City, Fla., Mr. Ackerman holds a bachelor's degree in physics and a master's degree from Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla. He also holds a master's degree in business from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Mr. Ackerman is a member of the board of The Allstate Corporation. He also serves on the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and is a trustee of Rollins College. Mr. Ackerman is the immediate past chairman of the national Council on Competitiveness, as well as of the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee. He is a former member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council and has served on the board of governors for the Society of Sloan Fellows of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was named to the UPS Board of Directors and its Compensation Committee on Aug. 29, 2007.