AT&T; Taps Bell Canada Exec as CFO

AT&T; Corp. named Dan Somers, a Bell Canada senior executive, as its next chief financial officer, the telecommunications company’s biggest outside hire since John R. Walter became president last fall. Somers, 49, replaces Richard W. Miller, 56, who quit last month after four years with the company amid several other high-level departures in the wake of Walter’s rise to power. Walter, the future replacement to chairman and chief executive Robert Allen, has moved aggressively to try to turn AT&T; around with a hand-picked executive team and a fresh strategic blueprint. Somers’ challenge is to help assuage concerns of financial analysts and investors as AT&T; tries to revitalize its long-distance business and expand into local service and other ventures. AT&T; shares rose 25 cents to close at $33.50 on the NYSE.