Zayo, the leading digital infrastructure network provider, today announced the appointment of Mariana Agathoklis Schlock as its first-ever Executive Vice President, Chief Communications & Marketing Officer, reporting to Zayo Chief Executive Officer, Sowmyanarayan Sampath. Announced in Denver, the appointment elevates the company's brand and commercial visibility as the rapid expansion of the AI economy reshapes global infrastructure demands.
In this role, Agathoklis Schlock will lead Zayo's integrated communications, marketing and environmental, social and governance functions, strengthening its market presence, and building a unified approach to how the company reaches employees, customers, industry partners, investors, and communities the company serves.
“We have a significant opportunity ahead of us as AI drives new infrastructure demand and enterprises look to put AI to work across their businesses,” said Sampath. “I know firsthand her skill in transforming complex technology into compelling customer and market narratives. Her ability to operate at speed and scale is exactly what Zayo needs as we sharpen our story and capture this market moment.”
Agathoklis Schlock joins Zayo following nearly nine years at Verizon, where she held senior roles across its consumer, business, media, and corporate organizations. Most recently, she served as the Head of Communications for Verizon Consumer, a $100 billion annual revenue business unit. Over the course of her tenure, she helped lead major brand and commercial initiatives, including the public launch of 5G, creation of Verizon Business Small Business Days, and launch of the award-winning Verizon Family campaign.
Throughout her career, Agathoklis Schlock has worked at the intersection of brand, reputation, customer engagement, and business strategy, helping organizations navigate transformation and build relevance at scale. Before joining Verizon, she spent 12 years at MTV, where she led communications across corporate, brand, programming, and digital initiatives. Her achievements have earned recognition from PRWeek, Cannes Lions, Digiday, Cynopsis, and other industry organizations. She is a member and mentor with the Institute for Public Relations and a Boston University graduate, where she serves as inaugural co-chair of the 1839 Society.
“As AI reshapes how companies operate, their technology backbone becomes even more central to their ability to grow, innovate and compete,” said Agathoklis Schlock. “Zayo has the physical network, expertise, and talent to lead this transformation and help our customers and industry partners navigate this change. I look forward to building on the strong capabilities of the communications, marketing, and ESG teams as we make Zayo's value unmistakable to customers and the market.”
About Zayo
The world’s digital future depends on networks that perform. Zayo builds and operates those networks. As the leading digital infrastructure provider, the Zayo network spans 32 million fiber miles and 224,000 route miles across North America and connects more than 400 markets globally. With dense long-haul and metro fiber connectivity, tailored connectivity solutions, and managed services, Zayo’s network underpins the cloud, AI, and enterprise platforms powering the digital economy. Carriers, cloud providers, data centers, enterprises, schools, and governments rely on Zayo’s future-ready infrastructure and expertise to design, scale, and operate the networks that connect what’s next.
