Vonage names new CEO

Internet phone company Vonage is turning to a former Cingular Wireless to help guide it forward.

Marc Lefar, CEO of Vonage

(Credit: Vonage)

Vonage announced Wednesday that Marc Lefar, former chief marketing officer at Cingular, will become the Vonage's new CEO. Lefar, 44, will take over the top spot at the company from Jeffrey Citron, Vonage's founder who stepped in last year to help guide the company through its legal battles and financial issues.

Jeffrey Citron, founder and chairman of Vonage

(Credit: Vonage)

Now that Vonage has made headway through these troubles, Lefar will take over to guide the company's long term strategy. Earlier this week, Vonage said it had gotten $215 million in debt financing to help it get it back on track. And earlier this year it settled its legal troubles over patent disputes.

But Lefar has a tough job ahead of him. Vonage faces stiff competition from cable operators that are also offering voice over IP services. And it faces competition from traditional phone companies selling wireless services.

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I wish Marc luck, I really do. I hope he addresses the issues of users (and former users) that are the root of their high churn rate. Just read the many comments at vonage-forum.com to see what I am talking about. Vonage does not even have full outbound caller ID working! (No name, just the number).