Syniverse, which provides mobile communication services like messaging, roaming and connectivity, has named William Petersen as executive vice president and chief legal officer.
Petersen brings more than 35 years of experience to the role, including serving as an assistant U.S. attorney, holding key leadership positions at Verizon and, most recently, serving as senior roles at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Petersen replaces Rachel Jackson, who had been with Syniverse since 2013 and became chief legal officer in 2023, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Syniverse and Petersen did not immediately respond to Law.com’s requests for comment, and it’s unclear whether Jackson has transitioned to another role within the company or moved on.
“As a longstanding member of the telecommunications community, I’m aware of Syniverse’s role in keeping the world connected,” Petersen said in a statement.
“I look forward to working with this talented global team to support the company’s growth and commitment to innovation. Together, we’ll ensure Syniverse continues to lead with integrity and resilience while delivering exceptional value to our customers and stakeholders.”
Based in Tampa, Florida, Syniverse helps mobile operators and businesses connect their customers through services like text messaging and roaming.
The company had been set to go public through SPAC merger in February 2022, but the deal fell through amid weak market conditions. The transaction valued Syniverse at lofty $2.85 billion and would have provided the firm $1.2 billion in cash to help fund growth.
After that funding fell through, Syniverse and the cloud communications platform Twilio in May 2022 agreed to expand an existing partnership, with Twilio investing $750 million in return for a minority stake.
Peterson comes to Syniverse following a three-year run at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the first two years as general counsel and the final year as chief operating officer.
Before that, he spent 15 years at Verizon, where he held such leadership roles as deputy general counsel for litigation and GC for Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland.
At Syniverse, Petersen will oversee the global legal team, focusing on compliance, contract negotiation, risk management and corporate governance. He will report directly to CEO Andrew Davies.
In a statement, Davies said, “Bill will be instrumental in shaping Syniverse’s legal strategy as the company continues to innovate and meet the demands of the mobile network.”
