Jere Drummond retired as Vice Chairman of BellSouth Corporation in Atlanta, Georgia on December 31, 2001.  He was responsible for public relations, advertising, brand management, and regulatory and external affairs, including the Washington, D.C. office.  He also led BellSouth's continued efforts to enter the long-distance market.

A native of Rome, Georgia, he graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology and holds a master's degree from Georgia State University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he was a Sloan Fellow.

Mr. Drummond began his communications career in 1962, and served in numerous capacities with BellSouth.  Mr. Drummond was named President and Chief Executive Officer of BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc., BellSouth's local telephone service unit and largest subsidiary, in January, 1995.  He was promoted t President and Chief Executive Officer of the BellSouth Communications Group on January 1, 1998.  On January 1, 2000, he was promoted to Vice Chairman of BellSouth Corporation.

Mr. Drummond's civic commitments include membership on the boards of AirTran Airways, Borg-Warner Automotive, Centillium Communications, Inc., Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), and nuBridges, LLC.  He also serves on the boards of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Robert W. Woodruff Arts Center.  Mr. Drummond is a trustee of the Georgia Tech Foundations, Georgia State University Foundation, Atlanta Landmarks and Darlington School. 

Mr. Drummond is married to Patsy and they have three children and eight grandchildren.

See an alumni profile of Jere Drummond in the 2002 State of Business magazine.>>